Charting Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders in Epic
Recommendations for charting clinically meaningful & non-judgmental diagnoses with International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes
Medically accurate and patient-centered language can improve the health outcomes of patients who use substances. At the same time, stigmatizing language can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, hinder open communication, and create barriers to treatment. Words like “abuse” elicit negative bias from providers including moral judgment, blame, and pessimism about treatment. Learn more
