Observation after surgery

lrdelin

How do you handle patients who have been in observation status prior to surgery. Is anyone reviewing to determine if patient still meets observation status after a surgical procedure?

RHirsch

After surgery their care is considered post-operative care and billed as recovery care, just as you would if they stayed overnight after a schedeuled outpatient surgery. Observation hour counting would end when they left their observation room to go down to the OR. Now if they need more care after the planned recovery, then you should get a new order for Obs and start counting again. For example, next morning should go home but still nauseous and surgeon wants to continue iv fluids and nausea meds.