Waikato DHB realise improved clinical coding can help make gains in paediatric staffing and research

Waikato’s DHB paediatric department realised that they needed to make efforts to improve the accuracy of their clinical coding. They achieved this by designing a coding checklist, training RMOs to use the checklist with every discharge and having regular meetings with coders to decipher ambiguous data. 

Although their original intention was to improve accuracy, they made secondary gains by recognition as a “high output” service, having data to add strength to concerns like staffing levels and using the improved coding as a research tool.

Waikato’s innovation presentation is available to HRT members by clinking here. 

Other hospital’s innovations from the 2015 Paediatric Improvement Group meeting are available by clicking here. 

To find out more about these and other innovations from this meeting, please email alex.carrasco@healthroundtable.org