Update on Learning ICD-10-CM by Mnemonics

ICD-10-CM Mnemonics are updated for 2020.

As the healthcare industry is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the adoption of ICD-10-CM/PCS, an appropriate celebration to mark the occasion would be to revisit Learning ICD-10-CM by Mnemonics, which has been updated for 2020.

The table below provides chapters, beginning letters of the chapters, mnemonics, and the official chapter titles.

Chapter Beginning Letter(s) Mnemonic Chapter Title
Chapter 1 A, B Advancing Bugs Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
Chapter 2 C, D Cancer, Death Neoplasm
Chapter 3 D Dracula Diseases of Blood and Blood Forming Organs
Chapter 4 E Endocrine Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic Diseases
Chapter 5 F Freud Mental, Behavioral, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Chapter 6 G “Gittery” Diseases of Nervous System
Chapter 7 H Hyphema Diseases of Eye and Adnexa
Chapter 8 H Hearing Diseases of Ear and Mastoid Process
Chapter 9 I Infarction Diseases of the Circulatory System
Chapter 10 J Just Gasping Diseases of the Respiratory System
Chapter 11 K Knot in Stomach Diseases of Digestive System
Chapter 12 L Lipoma Diseases of Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue
Chapter 13 M Musculoskeletal Diseases of Musculoskeletal System
Chapter 14 N Nocturia Diseases of Genitourinary System
Chapter 15 O Obstetrics Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium
Chapter 16 P Perinatal Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period
Chapter 17 Q Quirky Congenital Malformations, Deformations, and Chromosomal Abnormalities
Chapter 18 R Relative Symptoms Symptoms, Signs, and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified
Chapter 19 S, T Simply Traumatic Injury, Poisoning, and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes
Chapter 20 V, W, X, Y Vehicles, Woops, eXposure, whY External Causes of Morbidity
Chapter 21 Z Zero Problems Factors Influencing Healthcare Status and Contact with Health Services
Chapter 22 – New U Unusual Codes for Special Purposes

The World Health Organization (WHO) added Chapter 22 to ICD-10 with the advent of COVID-19 and the need to accommodate the new code for vaping-related disorders. Consequently, the chapter was added to ICD-10-CM as well.

The diagnosis codes are easier to think about when you know the general area that is included in the code. You can test these mnemonics and see if it helps you remember the diagnosis codes.

Programming Note: Laurie Johnson is a permanent panelist on Talk Ten Tuesdays. Listen to her live reporting on ICD-10 codes every Tuesday at 10 a.m. EST.

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Laurie M. Johnson, MS, RHIA, FAHIMA, AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer

Laurie Johnson is currently a senior healthcare consultant for Revenue Cycle Solutions, based in Pittsburgh, Pa. Laurie is an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer. She has more than 35 years of experience in health information management and specializes in coding and related functions. She has been a featured speaker in over 40 conferences. Laurie is a member of the ICD10monitor editorial board and is a permanent panelist on Talk Ten Tuesdays

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