Contact with running hot water, subsequent encounter

This code indicates an injury resulting from contact with running hot water, such as from a faucet or shower, during a follow-up visit. It specifically pertains to burns or scalds sustained from water that is actively flowing.

Apply this code when documenting a patient's subsequent visit for treatment or evaluation of an injury previously sustained from running hot water. This includes follow-up appointments for wound care, infection checks, or assessment of healing progress.

• Ensure the encounter is explicitly documented as a subsequent visit for the initial injury.
• Always code the specific type and severity of the burn (e.g., T20-T25) as the primary diagnosis, with this external cause code as a secondary code.
• Verify the mechanism of injury clearly states "running hot water" to differentiate from other heat sources.