prep tip- Table of Contents

Chances are good that if you are preparing for an exam, you are at least thinking about book prep. One often overlooked prep opportunity is the table  of contents.

 

But consider - it's at the front  of the book, you will be looking at it a lot, and there's a number of great ways it can be of use. So grab a highlighter and a fine-point pen or six and use any of the following that you find work for you!

 

(I always use erasible pens/highlighters to keep everything updateable)

 

In the ICD-10-CM:

 

1. Highlight the code ranges next to the chapter titles. When skimming for where to find code N200, it'll help the Ns stand out.

 

2. Write the MDCs near the chapter number. When you need to know the MDC of of endocrine issues, it's right there.

 

3. Write the names of key common conditions above the chapter names

 

4. write the names and page numbers of flowsheets/illustration pages.

 

Remember, the chapters usually have a mini TOC of their own! These come with the chapter's sections listed next to their code ranges. There are things to add here too.

 

1. The page the section starts on. Simple, very helpful.

 

2. Key Dxs in that range.

 

There are things to do/add to the chapters to help prep, but we're sticking to the TOCs for now.

 

In the PCS:

 

1. The page number of the relevent "Character Meaning" chart (on it, right the chapter page number). These are all in an appendix.

 

2. Highlight the ranges

 

3. Draw a single line down the side of the sections and write it's name there (ancellary, ect.)

 

4. Highlight/Underline any listed item useful to you (appendix A, Approach Table, whathaveyou)

 

In the front of each section/chapter of the PCS is a facing page titled Notes. On it write:

 

1. The root operations used in that section

 

2. For each of those add the table's ranges, the page number the table is on, the page number of it's index entry

 

3. Also add the alphanumeric for that operation

 

4. At the top of the page write the first two section indicators and the page number for it's "character meaning" appendix page

 

The amount of time these will additions will save is amazing.

 

Attached are pictures of my 2023 books with some of these additions. There are much neater ways to do these preps. Mine were done, erased, and updated multiple times as my needs changed that year.