This short list might be helpful to our clients and others who are thinking it’s time to start planning for the ICD-10 implementation:

• Get HIPAA 5010 in place
• Align with EHR
• Conduct a risk assessment
• Provide awareness and foundational education
• Gather an inventory of all contracts and systems
• Find a competent third party to help guide you through the process
• Get a computer-based tool to track the remediation and training process
• Plan how to report and track progress toward compliance
• Start contingency planning to avoid significant impact on your bottom line
• Use best practices for testing, training and change management.

These points build on previous blogs about the benefits of looking back over completed projects to see what we can learn. In this post I share some questions that one might pose about some of the “overall” indicators about how a project was planned and executed.  

• How accurate were the initial cost estimates and schedule?
• What was needed in budget and resources, above the original estimates, to complete the project successfully?
• How effective was the change control process?
• How effective was the issues management process?
• How effective was the project governance?
• How well were external dependencies understood at the outset of the project?
• Was the project a success?  Why or why not?
• Were the needs and expectations of the customer(s) met?
• How satisfied was the customer?
• Were the project objectives met?
• Were the business objectives met?

This one’s for my readers who really want to be a success.  Here’s a list of thoughts for you to use to strive to be a phenomenal success in the coming year and beyond!

• Have a purpose and a vision
• Have a positive attitude and be enthusiastic
• Go above and beyond
• Learn from the past
• Take initiative
• Have empathy and compassion
• Work well as a member of a team
• Pay attention
• Be a creative thinker
• Have faith

As Apex3 is working with several strategic partners to bring our IT expertise to the health care community, this blog will, from time to time, devote space to the ICD-10 transition.  Here’s a list of important actions health care providers should be taking now, with an eye to the transition looming in October 2013…

• Form executive steering committee and set expectations for transition requirements

• Create a governance structure for the ICD‐10 program

• Perform an impact assessment and identify potential changes to existing work flow and business processes (6 months)

• Collect information from each department staff members who will need ICD-10 training

• Evaluate the effect of ICD-10 on other planned or on-going projects (e.g., 5010 transition, EHR adoption and Meaningful Use)

• Determine the business and technical implementation strategy 

• Estimate costs associated with the implementation, such as software, hardware, and staff training 

• Evaluate contracts and contact vendors, clearinghouses, and billing services to understand their readiness and plans

• Determine anticipated testing time and include in the transition schedule