Struck by sea lion, subsequent encounter

This code indicates that a patient has sustained an injury resulting from being struck by a sea lion, and this encounter is not the initial treatment for the injury. It signifies a follow-up visit for ongoing care, such as wound checks, physical therapy, or medication adjustments, related to the original incident.

Apply this code for any encounter following the initial treatment for an injury caused by a sea lion. This includes visits for complications, healing assessment, or further management of the injury after the acute phase. It would be used in scenarios like a patient returning to the clinic for a dressing change after being bitten by a sea lion a week prior.

• Always pair this external cause code with a primary diagnosis code detailing the specific injury sustained (e.g., bite, contusion).
• Ensure the seventh character 'D' is used only for subsequent encounters, not the initial treatment ('A') or sequela ('S').
• Verify documentation clearly indicates the patient is presenting for follow-up care related to the sea lion incident.