From "A Chance to Cut is a Chance to Cure" This note about sending patients to the ER.
In primary care .. it's not so clear as in general surgery.
Yesterday I met a patient at the office (yep -- Saturday afternoon) who called with "doc I feel just rotten." It would not have been appropraite to send him to the ER ... and some may have had him take some tylenol and come to the office Monday AM. ..
when I saw him, I was glad that I did what I did.
Temperature was 103. Exam revealed cellulitis of the right leg ("well, my leg did hurt some") and a blood sugar of 156.
(no known medical problems, by-the-way)
So now you know the diagnosis.
While I doubt anyone would argue that this would have been an abuse of an ER .. I think that most would agree that cellulitis and a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is more appropriately managed in the primary physician's office -- where follow-up can be arranged (he's doing much better today) and continuity is maintained.
How to bill?
99050 (rarely paid .. but we'll ask the insurer for it anyway)
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