How does it work?
The PLATOCODE® solution is unique
The PLATOCODE engine is not an ordinary Natural Language Processing (NLP) system. Nor is it a decision tree system that searches for keywords and walks the coder towards a possible code. The PLATOCODE system uses a patented and completely unique process that truly "reads" and comprehends a clinical chart without relying on batteries of rules or statistical estimations.
As a result, the PLATOCODE solution is not limited to specialties where there is a small number of source documents for coding, a high volume of repetitive cases or a limited clinical vocabulary. The PLATOCODE engine was designed to produce codes for ambulatory surgery - a highly variable coding task including the need for CPT codes and modifiers. You can still code the simple stuff with the PLATOCODE solution, but if you need to code more complex cases, you can do that too.
How does it work?
The patented PLATOCODE process analyzes the text and semantics of a medical record in three dimensions. The system analyzes each word, each sentence and the entire context of the document before determining appropriate codes. Under development by the PLATOCODE company since 1992, this form of logic is often referred to as artificial intelligence and is arguably the most advanced application in medical coding today.
Click here to see a video Introduction to the PLATOCODE CAC system.
Harnessing the PLATOCODE output
Having generated a set of codes for a chart, those codes need to be made available to coders.
In the PLATOCODE system the codes are presented to coders in the "PLATOCODE CAC Viewer" application. This application is designed to fit into your existing coding process, appearing on the screen when the coder clicks or otherwise declares that she is ready to code. The Viewer displays the set of CAC codes along with their source in the chart. The coder accepts, rejects or adds new codes until she is satisfied. CCI Edits and other advisories are provided, as is a soundex ICD-9 index search. When the coder is satisfied she resumes her usual coding process with the CAC codes automatically loaded into her abstractor or coding application. It sounds simple and it is simple: coders need training to use all the advanced features but minimal training is required to review and manage codesets in the Viewer.
