Certified Inpatient Coding (CIC) Practice Exam

Which indicators are recognized for reporting present on admission (POA)?

1. Y, N, O, A, 1

2. U, W, N, 1, Y

3. A, N, W, Y, 0

4. N, W, Z, P, O

The correct answer is: U, W, N, 1, Y

The correct answer signifies the recognized indicators for reporting present on admission (POA) status in coding. POA indicators are crucial because they determine if a condition was present at the time of admission or if it developed during the hospital stay. The indicators include: - **Y**: Yes, the condition was present on admission. - **N**: No, the condition was not present on admission. - **1**: The condition was present at the time of discharge but could also be interpreted as being present on admission in certain guidelines. - **W**: Clinically undetermined if the condition was present on admission. - **U**: Unspecified or unknown, which can also come into play under certain coding standards. The inclusion of these specific letters correctly aligns with the guidelines established for POA indicators, reflecting the criteria set by major health coding organizations. Recognizing these indicators allows coders to accurately capture the patient's condition upon admission and affects reimbursement and quality metrics. In contrast, the other sets of indicators include combinations that do not align with the established coding guidelines for POA reporting. Some may introduce letters that either do not exist in the POA indicator system or are used for different purposes altogether, making them unsuitable for reporting present on