Conference Q&A: Haik offers a clinical perspective on sepsis and respiratory failure
Editor Note: Over the coming weeks, we’ll take some time to introduce members to a few of this year’s ACDIS conference speakers. The conference takes place May 9-12, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Today, we’ve reached out to William E. Haik, M.D., F.C.C.P., C.D.I.P., who has practiced medicine in Fort Walton Beach, Florida since 1980, and will be presenting “Sepsis: 1, 2, 3 – RAC Attack! Respiratory Failure: Definition and Sequencing Guidelines.” He has received board certification in internal, pulmonary, and critical care medicine. Dr. Haik’s past professional accomplishments include: Chief of Internal Medicine, Director of Respiratory Care Services, Board of Trustees at his local hospital, President of the Okaloosa County Medical Society, and representative of the Government Liaison Committee for the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Haik’s coding background has included AHA’s Editorial Advisory Board and Expert Advisory Panel of Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM as well as participation in the preparation of the original AHIMA CCS and CDIP examinations. He served on the original Board for ACDIS and aided in the preparation of the first certification examination. He currently serves as a final arbitrator for Medicare Part C MS-DRG modifications and as an expert consultant to the United States Department of Justice. He served on a multi-disciplinary committee which developed the 2010 and 2013 AHIMA Physician Query Practice Brief. Dr. Haik has conducted educational seminars and national teleconferences regarding physician involvement in DRG management, coding, and other related topics in association with HCFA (CMS), AHA, AHIMA, HCPro, and various state Quality Improvement Organizations. Since 1988, Dr. Haik has served as the Director of DRG Review, Inc., a physician directed hospital coding consultative service. The goal of DRG Review, Inc. is to educate medical and coding staffs in medical record documentation and coding compliance.
Q: As an MD, what do you bring to the CDI table that others don’t?
A: I think I bring a practical knowledge, a working clinical practice perspective. I have some coding knowledge as well, so I can merge the two.
Q: What are three things attendees can expect from your session?
A: Complete boredom! Just kidding! In all seriousness, attendees can expect to:
- Understand the clinical definition and coding nuances of acute and chronic respiratory failure;
- Understand the evolution of the definition of sepsis; and
- Understand how to apply the three different sepsis consensus statements and how, by understanding those, one can defend an adverse clinical documentation position from a RAC
Q: What is one tool CDI professionals cannot live without?
A: In my opinion, a CDI professional should have a few things in their toolkit. First, they should have a clinical background, a working knowledge of the coding clinics for ICD-10, a reference tool that answers certain clinical guide and their coding correlation.
Q: In what ways does your session challenge CDI professionals to think outside the box?
A: We do arm wrestling during my talk! Just kidding. In reality, I’m trying to get them to think inside the box! I want to get everyone to think clinically as a physician would.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about this year’s conference?
A: It is in Las Vegas, need I say more? Seriously, though, I’m looking forward to hearing some presentations on quality – HCCs, VBP – such as that. I’m really looking forward to expanding my knowledge.
Q: Fun question: do you have any pets?
A: Her name is Mary-Kate – she’s my wife. Just kidding. Actually, I don’t have any pets right now. I have had three dogs, though. They were named Bitey, Gus, and Tucker.