Improving the Identification of Sepsis Survivors: What you need to know about the NEW Encounter for Sepsis Aftercare ICD-10 code

Improving the Identification of Sepsis Survivors: What you need to know about the NEW Encounter for Sepsis Aftercare ICD-10 code

4.88 (17 votes)

Description: 

Date: October 30, 2024

Time: 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET

Sepsis affects over 1.7 million Americans each year and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 75% of sepsis deaths in the U.S. occur in the Medicare population, with a death rate exceeding 300 per 100,000 people. Sepsis survivors face a higher risk of recurrence and readmission, particularly if they’ve been in intensive care. In July 2024, CMS released the FY 2025 ICD-10-CM code update, effective from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. This update includes a new code, Z51.A ‘Encounter for Sepsis Aftercare,’ which allows providers to document sepsis aftercare and warn patients about potential risks, such as new or recurring infections, and offer rehabilitation for impairments.

In this informative presentation, Dr. Kathy Bowles will discuss how the new Z51.A code is crucial for healthcare providers to document follow-up care for sepsis survivors who may be at risk for recurrent infections or dealing with the long-term effects of sepsis, such as post-sepsis syndrome (PSS). It ensures that ongoing care, like monitoring for new infections or rehabilitation for impairments, is properly recorded.

Learning Objectives: 

At the end of the activity, the learner should be able to:

  • Describe the use case for ICD-10 code Z51.A 'Encounter for Sepsis Aftercare;’
  • Identify the barriers to information transfer during transitions in care for sepsis survivors and suggest strategies for improvement;
  • Identify appropriate applications of ICD-10 code Z51.A in various healthcare settings.

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Kathryn Bowles PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI

Professor of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

Director of the Center for Home Care Policy & Research, VNS Health

Kathryn Bowles PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, is a Professor of Nursing and the van Ameringen Chair in Nursing Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She is the Vice President and Director of the Center for Home Care Policy & Research at VNS Health. Her program of research in clinical decision support and implementation science for discharge planning, transitions in care, and home care with vulnerable older adults has been continuously funded for 25 years. She has served on many national committees and workgroups to advance the care of older Americans such as the National Quality Forum, the Care Coordination Steering Committee ,and the Heath Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP) Care Coordination Committee. She was an invited expert consultant on the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) Technical Expert Panel on the Post-Acute Care Assessment instrument (CARE tool) and two other Expert Panels to develop measures for transitions in care and continuity of care.

Dr. Bowles co-founded RightCare Solutions, a software company based on her team's research on decision support for post-acute care referrals. She was appointed to the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) Advisory Council and delivered the 2016 NINR Director's Lecture. She was invited by the National Academy of Medicine and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to discuss optimizing strategies for clinical decision support.  She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Medical Informatics, a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society where she was inducted into the International Nursing Research Hall of Fame.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 1.2 contact hours.

Other healthcare professionals will receive a certificate of attendance for 1.2 contact hours.

Medical Disclaimer

The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.

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