Er visit on a pregnant patient

[Carolyn]

If a pregnant patient comes into the er for an problem not related to the pregnant what code should the physician use

 

[Alicia Scott]

In this situation Carolyn you code for what she came in for. The key isn't that she is pregant. Say she came in for a laceration to the finger because she cut herself with a knife while washing dishes. That has nothing to do with the fact that she is pregnant. Now, if she has a high blood pressure because of the shock of cutting herself that affects the pregany and therefore the plan of care so the pregancy would be coded. The chart will state she is a pregnant female, age X, 32 weeks gestation etc...but if the pregancy is not affected or a part of the treatment being given it is not coded because it is not why she is being seen.