5 Best Practices for Optimizing Chronic Conditions Visits in the Ambulatory Setting

Here are some tips we’ve collected from providers that help them make the most of their time with patients during chronic condition visits.

1. Prepare for the visit by identifying topics that should be addressed with the patient. This is best done by a pre-visit questionnaire sent to the patient prior to the appointment.
2. Review patient’s chart prior to the visit, including care gaps due, lab work, cancer screening, or chronic conditions that haven’t been recently evaluated. Pull in outside records if the patient has been in urgent care or the emergency room since their last visit.
3. Use a standard template to document subjective and objective findings consistent with the diagnosis. Using a template for the visit type can help maintain consistency and completeness of documentation.
4. Be specific in the diagnosis description, such as degree and severity, and select the appropriate ICD-10 code that represents that specificity. Updating the problem list to reflect the current status of chronic conditions helps maintain continuity of care, especially if the patient needs to follow up with a different provider.
5. Think DSP: diagnostic statement, status, and plan. DSP is an excellent way to ensure that ICD-10 codes are supported by clinical documentation.

For more information, view Preventive Visits and Chronic/Complex Condition Review.

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