A one-year delay of the ICD-10 deadline may lead some healthcare providers to postpone training and testing of related projects, according to a new report from the Orem, Utah-based KLAS research.
For others, the focus will remain on identifying which third-party vendors can best help them prepare for their eventual adoption of the new coding guidelines.
The report states that 54 percent of interviewed providers named training and education as the most important areas in which outside help is needed. Many providers are using or planning to use a combination of eLearning tools and on-site training to help their staff prepare for the switchover. Precyse is the firm most frequently used for eLearning, and 3M and Precyse have the most providers using them for on-site physician training. Optum and 3M scored the highest marks for on-site training, while 3M and Precyse have the most providers utilizing them for help for on-site physician training. The Advisory Board received the highest overall ICD-10 consulting performance score.
However, training and education timelines will likely change to reflect the new deadline. System and end-to-end testing are other areas in which providers are looking for outside assistance, yet the field of firms who provide this help is narrow, and no firms appear to have deep experience in this area, according to the report.
"While demand was high for ICD-10 training and system and end-to-end testing, not many providers that we spoke with were utilizing their firms in these areas," Mike Smith, report author, said in a statement. "Part of this may be due to timing. Prior to the ICD-10 delay, I anticipated that we would see many more of these types of engagements in the coming months. However, many of these projects will now be pushed to 2015."
