ICD-10 coding is coming. But it's not going to be easy.

To give you an idea of how hard, Bridgefront has published a list of hurdles to a successful ICD-10 implementation. The first four have to do with planning and preparation:

1. "Completing an enterprise-wide impact assessment. According to multiple WEDI surveys, almost two-thirds of payers and providers have not completed this critical first step."
2. "Providers and payers will have to rely on their software vendors to perform system upgrades and changes due to the multitude of systems that contain ICD-9."
3. "Creating an inventory of all your systems. This is difficult to achieve, particularly in research hospitals where departments may have deployed systems and created."
4. "Education is critical for all staff. A given in the industry is that ICD-10 will provide for a major productivity hit among coders, physicians, and more."

That's a lot of impact for healthcare organizations to handle. "We need to focus on how we can mitigate that impact," said Bridgefront executive vice president, Lorraine Schnelle. "We know it's coming. We know it's a big job."

Mitigating that impact means maintaining accuracy and productivity, stablizing accounts receivable and sustaining cash flow. "The only way you're going to be able to get to that is to get everyone on board in understanding and being aware that ICD-10 is coming and how it potentially impacts the business process."

She says to start educating people now. She's not talking about teaching them medical codes. Instead, explain the implications such as medical claim denials due to incorrect diagnosis codes. It's one step in getting the whole staff to understand what's going to happen and what is everyone's role.

[See also: Don't start ICD-10 implementation until you warn the staff it's coming]

"You got everyone in the boat and their paddles are in the same direction," said Schnelle. That means more than forming steering committees and getting leadership on board. She said that's great, but everyone else needs to be brought on board.

That's the goal of the ICD-10 Preparedness Curriculum that Bridgefront is launching. Schnelle says it concentrates on "what is the change, what is the impact of the change on organizations, preparing for the change and understanding your role."

Schnelle said thCD-10 transition is only going to be successful if you engage the whole organization.

"Engage people and have them thinking this is very important to our success," said Schnelle. Everyone on staff needs to know they have a role in making ICD-10 coding - and the many other initiatives thrust upon the healthcare industry - a success for the whole organization. It's not just the IT department making it happen. "The more people you have engaged and aware, the greater success you're going to have."