Coma scale, best verb, incomprehensible words, admit

This code indicates a specific level of impaired consciousness, specifically when a patient's best verbal response upon hospital admission consists of incomprehensible words. It reflects a significant neurological deficit, often associated with severe brain injury or other acute medical conditions affecting brain function.

This code is used when a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment at the time of hospital admission documents a verbal response score of 2, indicating the patient is making sounds but not forming recognizable words. Documentation must clearly state the GCS verbal component score and that this assessment was performed upon admission.

• Always confirm the GCS verbal score and the timing of the assessment (at admission) from the medical record.
• Do not use this code if the patient is intubated or has other factors preventing verbal response; in such cases, the GCS verbal component is typically not scored or noted as untestable.
• This code is a secondary diagnosis and should be sequenced after the primary condition causing the altered mental status.