Grant: Project Grant

Classification systems are used around the world to code patient health information. Healthcare systems and governments can then use this coded data for planning, budgeting, reporting, research, and disease monitoring. In Canada, we are using outdated, inconsistent systems to code diseases and medical procedures. For example, for physicians to get paid for clinical visits, they must submit a diagnosis code to the provincial or territorial government; the coding system used here is over 45 years old. Our study aims to evaluate and test newer coding systems that could be used in the future to modernize the process for coding health data (specifically, medical procedures and diseases). We will do this by first mapping our current list of medical procedures in Alberta to two newer procedure coding systems to see how well they overlap and identify gaps. Next, we will test two new procedure systems and a new diagnosis coding system by re-coding information from patient visits from up to 100 physicians in Alberta. This will allow us to compare the current and newer systems and understand the impact on coded data quality. Lastly, we will present these findings to key individuals in government and medical associations and ask for their feedback on a proposed change in coding systems. This study will create evidence that governments can use when considering updating their coding systems for physician billing. This work is also highly desired in other provinces/territories and internationally through our collaboration with the World Health Organization.