Archived News - 2006
Coding Clinic
Posted December 2006
The Volume 3 Issue 7 Dec 2006 NHS CFH Coding Clinic has just been published. It is available for download from the NHS CFH Classifications website.
Warning!
Posted December 2006
This is a warning to Coding Managers to be careful when ordering replacement ICD-10 books. Managers should be aware that ICD-10 Edition 2 is now in circulation. ICD-10 Edition 2 has not been ratified for use by NHS CFH. Edition 2 can easily be identified because it has silver rather than gold text on the cover. Additionally, ICD-10 Edition 2 has 22 chapters rather than 21.
Data Quality Paper
Posted December 2006
A paper summarising research commissioned by the Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government, and conducted by the Royal College of Physicians identified that "...HES and PEDW are not suitable for routinely monitoring the performance of individual consultant physicians. The existing dataset, originally designed for largely administrative purposes, does not reliably reflect current working practices."
The paper goes on to outline three areas that need to be addressed.
- 1. That hospitals should routinely share clinically relevant analyses of local activity data with consultants in order to increase their involvement in the collection, validation and use of these data.
- 2. If centrally submitted data are to be used to monitor the performance of individuals, substantial work is required to develop clinical information systems which can better reflect current working practices.
- 3. The education and training of undergraduate and junior medical staff needs to provide a better understanding of how health information is managed. Without an appreciation of the role it plays in providing safe and effective patient care, both at the point of care and beyond, the clinician-information divide will be perpetuated and data quality will remain poor.
from Engaging Clinicians in Improving Data Quality in the NHS.
Click here for the full document.
NCCQ Examination reminder
Posted December 2006
For those involved in preparation for the March 2007 NCCQ, please note that the papers from the last two examinations are now available on the NHS CFH classifications website. (NB: These are only available to those who have internal NHS access.)
NCCQ Examination dates announced
Posted September 2006
The NHS Connecting for Health Classification Service and IHRIM have announced the dates for the next NCCQ. The examination will be held on the 14th March 2007. The closing date for registrations is the 31st January 2007. (NB: Candidates who failed one or more papers in March 2006 will be required to sit the full examination again. NHS Connecting for Health say that this is because the syllabus has changed to reflect OPCS 4.3.) From April 2007 there will be two examinations per year. Dates are yet to be announced. Should candidates fail a paper more than three time (the first sitting and two subsequent sittings), will be required to sit the entire examination again.
OPCS 4.3 Implementation Survey
Posted August 2006
The NHS Classifications Service are looking for feedback on the implementation of OPCS-4.3 to guide their implementation strategy for their planned annual reviews of the enhanced scheme. According to the NHS Classifications service webite, a short survey has been sent to all those clinical coders who are registered with them. The survey is also available for download. All responses are requested by 14 August 2006. We strongly encourage members to complete and return this survey to support this initiative.
Clinical Coding Audit
Posted July 2006
Currently clinical coding auditors may need to think carefully about the reasons for undertaking coding audit. The NHS CFH Classifications team have given notice that there may be issues arising form the Health and Social Care Information Act 2001.
Coding auditors are being advised that section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 is required where "confidential patient information is accessed by staff not involved in the care of the patient concerned and where the specific purpose of the audit is financial rather than clinical".
Although the Audit Commission have powers to obtain access to information including confidential patient information for PbR assurance work these powers currently do not extend to the NHS. The Association is advising its members who undertake coding audit to ensure that they seek confirmation from their organisations or clients that their audit is not in breach of current legislation. Click here for further information.
Coding Clinic
Posted July 2006
The NHS CFH Classifications Service have issued their latest DQR (Summer 2006) and Coding Clinic (Volume 3 Issue 5). Click here to access the NHS CFH Classifications Service News Letters page.
National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) Survey
Posted July 2006
The Classifications Service have announced that the partnership (NHS CFH Classifications Service and IHRIM(UK)) want to hear the views of NCCQ candidates. The partnership are particularly interested in candidates opinions regarding both exam preparation and sitting the exam.
Click here for the online questionnaire.The deadline for the return of the questionnaire is the 21st July 2006.
Review of OPCS 4.3
Posted June 2006
Following the publication of OPCS 4.3, the NHS Classifications Service has begun a review of the scheme and is actively looking for suggestions from the NHS. Any requests for changes can be made by completing the online form on the website:
Click here for the online form.
Click here for the submission guidelines for corrections document.
OPCS 4.3 Training Materials
Posted May 2006
Due to the need to update some of the coding advice (particularly with regard to rules for the new chemotherapy, radiotherapy and rehabilitation codes), coders need to be mindful of the fact that parts of the original self teach material do not now represent National Standards.
Click here for the updated coding advice.
OPCS 4.3 Implementation
Posted May 2006
OPCS 4.3 is here and NHS CFH have already announced that there will be an OPCS 4.4. This further update to OPCS 4.2 is likely to include additional codes needed to support version 4 HRGs and may also incorporate some of the requests from the questionnaire sent to coders at the time that a replacement to OPCS was being considered.
Many Trusts will have now implemented OPCS 4.3 and any known problems or perceived shortcomings should be reported to the NHS CFH development team as soon as possible so that these can be taken into consideration for OPCS 4.4.