Managers reports of automated coding system adoption and effects on data quality.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of the adoption of automated classification (encoder) systems in healthcare settings and related effects on perceived data quality.


METHODS
Survey of all U.S. accredited medical records managers, summarizing their reports of automated encoding systems and data quality change following adoption of systems.


RESULTS
Significant improvement in data was seen from adoption of automated encoding systems, though variation existed across regions and key demographic variables.


CONCLUSIONS
At a national level, there is a need to minimize data quality variation and ensure some degree of nationwide uniformity in the performance of coding systems. If healthcare providers are expected to trust coded data for comparative purposes, there will be a like need for more uniform and standardized system-based performance benchmarks.
Lorence
D P
DP
Department of Health Policy and Administration, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA. dpl10@psu.edu
Jameson
R
R
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008497:Medical Record Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D014481:United States