CHIME: CIOs supported ICD-10 but had doubts about readiness.

A survey of hospital CIOs conducted by the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) before the ICD-10 conversation deadline was extended to 2013 showed that a majority hadn't heard from their IT vendors about their plans for updating products to comply with the new code sets.

According to the research, many respondents were concerned about the amount of time they would have had to test transactions with business partners and how those tests would have been paid for. The deadline for using the ICD-10 codes had been planned for Oct. 1, 2011. While CIOs believe the proposed changes will enable more accurate coding for diagnoses, improving the accuracy of reimbursement and providing other benefits to the industry, they were concerned their organizations would have been rushed into preparing for the transition, says CHIME.

To more effectively prepare for the changes, CHIME is encouraging hospitals and health systems to develop educational materials, brief senior management on the anticipating changes, form ICD-10 industry work groups, and coordinate with other healthcare organizations.