Hurricane, initial encounter

This code signifies an injury or adverse health effect sustained by a patient directly due to a hurricane, during the initial period of care for that specific injury. It indicates the patient's first presentation for treatment related to the hurricane event.

Apply this code when a patient presents for the first time with injuries such as lacerations, fractures, contusions, or illnesses like hypothermia or dehydration, directly attributable to a hurricane. This includes emergency department visits, urgent care, or initial inpatient admissions following the storm.

• Always pair this external cause code with an injury or condition code describing the specific health effect.
• Ensure the "A" seventh character for initial encounter is appropriate for the patient's first treatment for this specific hurricane-related issue.
• Do not use for subsequent encounters or for long-term effects not directly related to the immediate impact of the hurricane.