A Positive Step in Cerebral Palsy Research: Leveraging Clinical Coding for Rare Conditions and Procedures

Francis June 28, 2023

Clinical coding, the process of translating clinical documentation into medical codes, is a cornerstone of healthcare data analysis. With the appropriate use of these coded datasets, healthcare professionals can gain insights into the prevalence and outcomes of various conditions and treatments. The recent study by Dayalan et al. on cerebral palsy (CP) and tracheostomy outcomes showcases how clinical coding can be harnessed to explore rare conditions and procedures, contributing to more informed healthcare decision-making.

A Fresh Approach to Investigate CP and Tracheostomy

The study’s objective was to source clinical information using healthcare coding data from one regional hospital within the National Health Service (NHS). Dayalan et al. worked with data analysts to identify two datasets of deceased CP patients, those with and without a history of tracheostomy, using ICD-10 codes for CP and and tracheostomy in addition to OPCS-4 codes. By delving into the medical records, the team gathered comprehensive data ranging from demographic details to age of death, cause of death, age of tracheostomy insertion, and comorbidity data.

Unearthing Invaluable Insights

The research provided the first observational data on outcomes for CP patients with tracheostomy, including differences in prevalence of comorbidities compared to the CP population without tracheostomy. The median age of death in the CP patients with tracheostomy was slightly higher compared to those without. It was also observed that patients with CP who underwent tracheostomy had higher rates of comorbidities such as tube-feeding, non-invasive ventilation, and severe learning difficulties.

The Power of Clinical Coding

This research not only contributed to the ongoing debate around tracheostomy in patients with severe CP but also underscored the potential of clinical coding to support research on rare and complex conditions. The study affirmed that no patient with a history of tracheostomy was omitted, highlighting the method’s accuracy and precision. However, the authors did note that the study could have benefited from a larger cohort size and the use of additional codes to assess for comorbidities.

Future Prospects and Conclusion

While this study is a step forward in the right direction, more comprehensive research would be possible by analysing national hospital episode statistics data. Also, expanding the coding system to include more comorbidities like epilepsy would provide a more nuanced understanding of CP patients’ health profiles.

Clinical coding, as demonstrated by Dayalan et al., has immense potential in improving our understanding of complex health conditions and associated procedures. This research serves as a crucial reminder of the value of clinical coding, not only for administrative purposes but also as a powerful tool to facilitate clinical research. Embracing the opportunities clinical coding provides will undoubtedly drive forward our quest for better healthcare outcomes for all.

References

  1. Dayalan L, Monaghan M, Carlisle G, Greenwood R, Gaskin J, Amin S. Outcomes for patients with cerebral palsy and tracheostomy: use of a novel method to investigate rare conditions and procedures. Not our study, 2023.
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Francis
Francis is an accredited clinical coding educator with over a decade of clinical coding experience in the UK. Passionate about the transformative power of e-learning, Francis blends this expertise with an innovative approach to education as a TAP Learning Practitioner. The mission is not just to educate but to inspire, fostering a community of lifelong learners in the dynamic world of clinical coding. With a commitment to improving the industry through education, Francis’s work is marked by an engaging, interactive, and inclusive approach, making every day an opportunity to learn, grow, and redefine what’s possible.