A New Focus on Process and Measure

Raising data quality with benchmarks and a standard coding workflow

CHICAGO, March 11, 2008—The need to establish a universal coding workflow has been building for several years. This is due to the increase in technology usage for data mining, a quest for automation, use of the code systems for quality of care measures tied to payment incentive and scrutiny of reimbursement accuracy, according to an article in the March issue of the Journal of AHIMA.

A New Focus on Process and Measure explains how the lack of standardization hinders communication related to clinical coding performance and work processes. Because workflow process varies by purpose, practice setting, organizational factors and other variables, challenges remain for defining measurement benchmarks, standardization and continuous quality improvement models that will improve data integrity and code assignment. The article addresses these challenges and explains how a foundation for change was designed to improve the coding process.

The article also illustrates a simple and comprehensive model for the coding workflow process that can be used in any healthcare setting where codes are assigned for data processing.

Read the complete article in the March issue of the Journal of AHIMA or online at www.ahima.org.

About AHIMA

AHIMA is the leading professional Association representing more than 52,000 specially educated and certified health information management professionals working throughout the healthcare industry.  HIM professionals serve healthcare and the public by managing, analyzing, and utilizing data vital for health system management. www.ahima.org