The ICD-10 code range V90-V94 pertains to water transport accidents. These codes are used to document incidents where the patient has been injured in an accident involving water transport. This can include accidents involving ships, boats, and other watercraft, as well as accidents that occur while boarding or disembarking such vessels. The codes in this range can specify the type of vessel involved, the nature of the accident, and the type of injury sustained.

Key Usage Points:

•Always code to the highest level of specificity, indicating the type of watercraft and injury where possible.
•Use additional codes to document any associated injuries or conditions.
•Remember to code for the initial encounter, subsequent encounter, or sequela as appropriate.
•Use the appropriate seventh character extension to indicate the episode of care.
•If the type of watercraft is not specified, use the unspecified code.

Coding Guidelines

When to Use:

✓When a patient presents with injuries sustained in a water transport accident.
✓When documenting a patient's medical history of previous water transport accidents.
✓When a patient is receiving ongoing treatment for injuries sustained in a water transport accident.
✓When a patient has complications or sequela from a previous water transport accident.

When NOT to Use:

✗When the patient's injury did not occur as a result of a water transport accident.
✗When the patient was not on board or directly involved with the watercraft at the time of the accident.
✗When the patient's injury is due to a natural disaster, not a water transport accident.
✗When the patient's injury is due to intentional self-harm or assault, not an accident.

Code Exclusions

Always verify the circumstances of the accident and the nature of the injury before coding.

Documentation Requirements

When documenting a water transport accident, it's important to provide as much detail as possible. This includes the type of watercraft involved, the nature of the accident, the patient's role (e.g., passenger, crew member), and the type and severity of the injuries sustained.

Clinical Information:

•Type of watercraft involved
•Nature of the accident
•Patient's role in the accident
•Type and severity of injuries sustained
•Episode of care (initial encounter, subsequent encounter, sequela)

Supporting Evidence:

•Emergency department records
•Radiology reports
•Surgical reports
•Patient's personal account of the accident

Good Documentation Example:

Patient, a crew member on a fishing boat, sustained a severe head injury when a boom swung unexpectedly during a storm. This is an initial encounter.

Poor Documentation Example:

Patient injured in boat accident.

Common Documentation Errors:

⚠Not coding to the highest level of specificity
⚠Not using the appropriate seventh character extension
⚠Not documenting the patient's role in the accident

Range Statistics

Total Codes

Billable

Complexity:

Medium

Primary Use:Clinical Documentation

Chapter:20

Coding Complexity

Medium

Complexity Rating

Coding for water transport accidents can be moderately complex due to the need to identify the specific circumstances of the accident and the potential for multiple injuries. Additionally, the use of seventh character extensions adds an additional layer of complexity.

Key Factors:

▸Determining the type of watercraft and nature of the accident
▸Identifying the patient's role in the accident
▸Coding for multiple injuries
▸Using the correct seventh character extension

Specialty Focus

These codes are most commonly used in emergency medicine, orthopedics, and trauma surgery, but may also be relevant in other specialties such as neurology and physical therapy.

Primary Specialties:

Emergency Medicine

40%

Orthopedics

30%

Trauma Surgery

20%

Clinical Scenarios:

• A patient falls overboard from a ferry and sustains a fractured femur.
• A speedboat driver is injured when his boat collides with another boat.
• A passenger on a cruise ship slips and falls, sustaining a head injury.
• A child is injured when a jet ski capsizes.

Resources & References

Resources for coding water transport accidents include the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, as well as clinical documentation from the treating healthcare providers. Educational materials on trauma coding may also be helpful.

Official Guidelines:

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Coding Guidelines
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Injury Coding Guidelines

Clinical References:

Emergency department records
Radiology reports
Surgical reports

Educational Materials:

AHIMA Trauma Coding Boot Camp
AAPC ICD-10-CM Training

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the type of watercraft is not specified in the documentation?

If the type of watercraft is not specified, use the unspecified code in this range (V94.9).