Achieving Accuracy in Clinical Coding for ENT Day Surgery: A Critical Assessment

Francis June 15, 2023

Clinical coding remains an integral part of health care services and their funding structures. A study by G. R. Reddy-Kolanu and R. P. Hogg has highlighted the importance of accuracy in clinical coding in ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) day surgeries. Let’s delve into their insightful study and unravel the implications for the broader realm of clinical coding.

The Problem at Hand: Coding Inaccuracies

The NHS Plan introduced Payment by Results (PbR) and the Healthcare Resource Groups (HRG) system in July 2000. This system depends on assigning an HRG code for every clinical event, a task performed by clinical coding staff. However, errors and discrepancies in coding can lead to significant financial impacts and inefficiencies in resource allocation.

The study examined the accuracy of these codes in ENT day surgery by comparing the ones assigned through routine clinical coding against those assigned by a specialty trainee assisted by a senior clinical coder.

The Study: Uncovering Coding Discrepancies

The study assessed case notes for ENT day surgery procedures performed in August 2008 at the Cumberland Infirmary. Of the 77 operations, notes for 69 were reviewed. The codes assigned by clinical coding were compared to those assigned by the specialty trainee and the head of clinical coding.

Their analysis revealed 21 instances of missing coding details, six of which had a financial impact. Incorrect coding resulted in a loss of £2729, which was 4.6% of the total income for these cases.

The Implications: From Financial Losses to Misallocation of Resources

Inaccurate coding resulted in considerable financial losses. For example, the incorrect coding of ‘skin lesion excision’ and ‘wedge excision of pinna’ as less resource-intensive procedures accounted for 81% of the loss to income. Rectifying these systematic errors could reduce income loss from 4.6% to just 0.8%.

However, the implications of coding errors extend beyond financial aspects. They also affect activity planning, resource allocation, and audit results. In the context of ENT day surgeries, inaccurate coding could lead to misleading information about the surgical procedures and resources used, affecting the quality of care and resource planning.

The Solution: Improving Communication for Accurate Coding

The study highlights the pivotal role of communication and collaboration between clinicians and clinical coders in enhancing the accuracy of clinical coding. Systematic analysis and effective dialogue can help identify and rectify systematic errors, boosting coding accuracy and optimising income.

Conclusion: Towards Accurate and Efficient Clinical Coding

The findings from Reddy-Kolanu and Hogg’s study underline the importance of accuracy in clinical coding, not just for ENT day surgery but across all health care practices. As coding forms the backbone of healthcare resource allocation and funding, ensuring its accuracy is of utmost importance.

Emphasising better communication between clinicians and clinical coders and routine audits of coding practices can help reduce errors and enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery. This focus on accuracy and efficiency is a critical step towards improving the broader landscape of clinical coding.

Sources:

Reddy-Kolanu GR, Hogg RP. Accuracy of clinical coding in ENT day surgery. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2009;123(9):1055-1058. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-4486.2009.01983.x

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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.