AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2017 Issue 4; New/Revised ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes
Pediatric Glasgow Scale
New inclusion terms have been added to codes in subcategories R40.22, Coma scale, best verbal response, and R40.23 Coma scale, best motor response, to clarify the usage for pediatric patients. The Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (PGCS) is used to assess the mental state of child patients. As with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the PGCS is comprised of three tests: eye, verbal, and motor responses. The following new inclusion terms are provided at the corresponding codes from subcategory R40.22, Coma scale, best verbal response, for newborns and children through 5 years of age: R40.222, Coma...
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Article Overview
This article covers pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale documentation updates and how newly added inclusion terms affect coma scale coding for child patients. It is relevant to coders, auditors, CDI professionals, and clinicians working with pediatric neurologic assessment documentation. The guidance focuses on the coma scale subcategories affected, the age-based pediatric terminology added to those codes, and the implications for documentation support in the medical record.
Why This Topic Matters
Pediatric neurologic assessment is often documented differently from adult scoring, so these updates help ensure pediatric coma scale documentation is mapped more consistently to the appropriate ICD-10-CM coma scale structure.
Article Sections
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Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale overview
Introduces the pediatric context for Glasgow Coma Scale documentation and summarizes the assessment areas used in this setting.
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Updated inclusion terms for best verbal response
Describes the pediatric terminology added to the coma scale subcategory related to verbal response and the age groups addressed.
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Updated inclusion terms for best motor response
Describes the pediatric terminology added to the coma scale subcategory related to motor response and the age groups addressed.
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Documentation and coding implications
Discusses the effect of the updated inclusion terms on documentation review and assignment of coma scale codes when pediatric findings are recorded.
What You Will Learn
- How pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale documentation is addressed in coma scale coding updates.
- Which coma scale subcategories received pediatric inclusion-term additions.
- What types of documentation considerations are discussed for pediatric coma scale reporting.
- How the article frames pediatric age-group terminology within coma scale coding.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation improvement specialists
- Pediatric clinicians
- Health information management professionals
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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