Hospital episode statistics: improving the quality and value of hospital data. Survey Results Published
BMJ Open have published the results of the clinicians responses to the Hospital Episode Statistics report.
1081 NHS hospital consultants and two general practitioners who volunteered to take part in the survey.
The results of the survey showed that:
- 3.4% of the sample regularly access HES data
- 21% are regularly involved in clinical coding
- 6.2% meet coding staff at least monthly
95% would like to access HES data and there was a strong support for using this data for appraisal, revalidation and improving the quality of patient care. In terms of improvements, 91.9% would be prepared to code diagnosis in outpatients given the right tools. The highest priority for improvement is clinical validation of diagnostic data.
The survey findings conclude that clinical engagement with coding and access to HES data is poor. However, there is professional support for improvement. Clinical requirements should be considered in all future developments of national data collection to provide the quality and scope of data that is required to deliver the information revolution.
read the full findings of the report at the BMJ Open webpages.