Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107373

Timothy L. Walker, Center for Health Information Technology, Constella Health Sciences, 2605 Meridian Parkway, Durham, NC 27713, (919)5410101, twalker@constellagroup.com

Domestic and foreign vital statistics registration areas are increasingly adopting the Mortality Medical Data System (MMDS) for cause of death coding. MMDS, distributed by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) automates cause of death for a high percentage of death certificates by transforming medical terms into ICD codes. Cause of death coding accuracy is extremely important because statistics derived from this coding help determine public health policy.

Automated coding means that we need less human coders, but the ones remaining must be much more skilled. They are now called upon to resolve the most difficult coding cases to be integrated into the automated systems. Currently, many of the most experienced coders are nearing retirement, we are in jeopardy of losing their specialized knowledge. The problem is twofold: First, automation has resulted in less coders. Second, younger workers are not choosing this career because pay lags behind the expertise that the position now demands.

Looking ahead, how do we ensure available expertise to guarantee continued accuracy, comparability and reliability of coded mortality data?

Learning Objectives:

• - Understand the challenges of ensuring continued cause of death coding expertise in today’s automated environment.
• - Enumerate best practices for recruiting and training coders in an automated environment.
• - Consider the challenges automation has introduced into mortality coding and similar challenges automation creates in other medical coding areas.

Keywords: Health Information Systems, Mortality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.