title: Exploratory analysis of medical coding practices: the relevance of reported data quality in obstetrics-gynaecology.
abstract: We aimed at identifying a suitable data analysis approach to investigate potential patterns in the current medical coding in obstetrics and perinatal care. We processed the data reported for 2006 in DRG files from three Romanian university clinics of obstetrics-gynaecology and found substantial differences in the coding practices. Based on the evidence we found with a poor usage of the coding instruments, we concluded that using objective methods and quantifiable measures in analyzing the medical coding could help putting things into the right perspective and bring support for the need for formal education of medical record administrators and coders where such programmes do not exist, e.g. in Romania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Romania. dlungeanu@umft.ro
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lungeanu
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaharie
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holban
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernad
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Noaghiu
mesh_terms: D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000145:classification* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008497:Medical Record Administrators / Q000193:education; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000592:standards*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000145:classification*; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000145:classification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D012383:Romania