Coma scale, best motor response, obeys commands, EMR

This code indicates a patient's best motor response on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) upon arrival at the emergency department. Specifically, it signifies that the patient was able to obey verbal commands, demonstrating a GCS motor score of 6. This finding is crucial for assessing neurological status and severity of injury or illness.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states the patient's GCS motor component was "obeys commands" at the time of their initial presentation to the ED. This is typically found in physician notes, nursing assessments, or pre-hospital records. It is used for patients presenting with altered mental status, head trauma, stroke, or other conditions affecting neurological function.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "at arrival to emergency department" for accurate temporal assignment.
• Do not use this code if the motor response was assessed at a different time point or in a different setting (e.g., inpatient unit).
• Always code in conjunction with other GCS component codes (eye opening and verbal response) to provide a complete GCS score, if available.