American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

What does V58.83 in ICD-9-CM signify?

1. Encounter for therapeutic drug monitoring

2. Diagnosis of drug overdose

3. Monitoring of laboratory tests

4. Preoperative laboratory evaluation

The correct answer is: Encounter for therapeutic drug monitoring

The code V58.83 in ICD-9-CM refers to an encounter for therapeutic drug monitoring. This code is used to indicate that a patient is being monitored to assess the effectiveness and safety of a medication they are taking. Therapeutic drug monitoring is important for medications that have a narrow therapeutic index, where the range between therapeutic and toxic doses is small. It helps ensure that patients are receiving the appropriate dose to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing the risk of adverse drug reactions. Understanding therapeutic drug monitoring is crucial in managing patients with complex medication regimens, particularly those with chronic conditions, requiring regular adjustment of doses based on lab results. This code reflects the necessity of such monitoring in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.