The next nine months are critical in terms of preparing for a smooth transition to ICD-10. If ICD-10 isn’t a priority in your organization yet, it should quickly rise to the top of the list as soon as possible. Health information management (HIM) professionals must lead the charge to ensure that everyone understands the timelines and tasks that must be accomplished facility-wide to make ICD-10 a reality. Given the fact that the clock is ticking, organizations must prioritize their efforts to make the most of the time remaining between now and Oct. 1.

Although specific priorities may vary from organization to organization based on overall readiness, the following areas should be front and center throughout the remainder of ICD-10 preparations: