[Significance of a coding engaged orthopaedic surgeon for the illustration quality and compensation of an orthopaedic university department in the German DRG System 2005].
OBJECTIVE
In the year 2005 the German DRG system underwent further differentiation in many areas compared to previous years. The effects of an improved coding quality by a specifically trained orthopaedic surgeon (KBFA) at an orthopaedic university department are analysed.


METHODS
In a closed sample of 1 277 cases the following parameters were documented after primary coding at discharge and after the final coding by the KBFA: main diagnosis, number of additional diagnoses and procedures, the resulting G-DRG, PCCL, cost weight and revenues. These data were analysed for statistically significant differences and correlations.


RESULTS
The final coding by the KBFA caused a significant (p<0.001) increase in the number of diagnoses and procedures. The intervention of the KBFA changed the DRG grouping in 34 % of the cases. The cost weight increased significantly and the case mix index raised by 0.26 in the complete sample, corresponding to an increased revenue of euro 62 per case and day.


CONCLUSIONS
The establishment of a KBFA in an orthopaedic department improved the quality of revenue-relevant DRG coding and the reflection of the economic complexity level of the cases. Compared to other reports, an above-average increase of cost weight as well as specification depth for diagnoses and procedures was achieved.
Schütz
U
U
Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Ulm am RKU. uwe.schuetz@uniklinik-ulm.de
Dreinhöfer
K
K
Reichel
H
H
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics*; D005858:Germany; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data