[The DRG responsible physician in trauma and orthopedic surgery. Surgeon, encoder, and link to medical controlling].
BACKGROUND
Precise coding is an essential requirement in order to generate a valid DRG. The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality of the initial coding of surgical procedures, as well as to introduce our "hybrid model" of a surgical specialist supervising medical coding and a nonphysician for case auditing.


METHODS
The department's DRG responsible physician as a surgical specialist has profound knowledge both in surgery and in DRG coding. At a Level 1 hospital, 1000 coded cases of surgical procedures were checked.


RESULTS
In our department, the DRG responsible physician who is both a surgeon and encoder has proven itself for many years. The initial surgical DRG coding had to be corrected by the DRG responsible physician in 42.2% of cases. On average, one hour per working day was necessary.


CONCLUSIONS
The implementation of a DRG responsible physician is a simple, effective way to connect medical and business expertise without interface problems. Permanent feedback promotes both medical and economic sensitivity for the improvement of coding quality.
Klinik für Unfallchirurgie und Orthopädie 1, Westpfalz-Klinikum GmbH, Hellmut-Hartert-Straße 1, 67655, Kaiserslautern, Deutschland, thomas@ruffing.eu.
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D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010819:Physician's Role; D014194:Traumatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification*