470 - Winter Summit 2024 Session 3: Break Glass - When the Clinical Coding Workforce Can’t Be Found
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, the pressing issue of clinical coder shortages in Australian hospitals and the potential solutions through digitisation were at the forefront of the discussion.?
Hospital Executives from around the country contributed to the discussion, including Ravinder Carothers , Head of Health Fund Relations and Revenue at Healthe Care Australia, Nicole Payne , Head of Transformation of Revenue Cycle Management at Healthscope , and Chris M. , Chief Information and Digital Officer at Hunter New England Local Health District . They shared their insights on leveraging technology to address workforce challenges and improve healthcare delivery.
This session was recorded at the Talking HealthTech Winter Summit held on the 29th of August 2024, which brought together key people from the ecosystem in a live virtual event where participants in the chat shaped conversations.'
The Complexity of Clinical Coding
Clinical coders play a crucial role in the healthcare ecosystem by translating clinical data into codes used for billing, compliance, and healthcare planning. However, the coding process is becoming increasingly complex, leading to a significant shortage of skilled clinical coders. This shortage impacts various aspects of healthcare, including revenue cycle management and clinical governance .?
The Role of AI in Healthcare
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise clinical coding by enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of the coding process. Chris Mitchell discussed AI's impact on healthcare, particularly in coding. AI can transition clinical coders to the role of checkers rather than transcribers, potentially increasing workforce satisfaction and efficiency. Such augmentation through AI could help address the coder shortage by allowing human resources to focus on more complex and nuanced tasks.
Data Accuracy and Accessibility
Ensuring the accuracy and accessibility of digitised medical records is vital. Digitisation can resolve issues related to data accuracy by providing a unified platform for record-keeping. Furthermore, it can significantly enhance the accessibility of records, facilitating remote work capabilities. This is particularly relevant in rural and under-resourced areas, where clinical coders might not be readily available on-site.
Digitisation can have different purposes, such as clinical coding or interoperability . Healthcare providers can lay the groundwork for broader digital transformation initiatives by focusing on scanning records to facilitate coding and auditing.
Digitisation and the Evolution of Medical Records
Nicole Payne discussed Healthscope's strategic move towards fully digitised medical records by 2025. Healthscope aims to support and grow the current coding workforce by launching an AI task force dedicated to clinical coding. Digitisation streamlines the coding process and enhances the accessibility and quality of medical records, leading to improved patient care and operational efficiencies.?
Ravi Carothers added that Healthe Care Australia is in the early stages of digitising records, with larger sites already scanning for remote coding. This shift from paper-based systems to digital solutions is crucial for public and private healthcare sectors aiming to modernise their record-keeping processes.
Improving Workforce Dynamics
Flexible work arrangements are essential to attract and retain a scarce clinical coding workforce. This flexibility helps accommodate coders who need to work outside regular hours and opens opportunities for remote and geographically dispersed teams.?
By assigning work based on complexity to either experienced or junior coders and exploring technologies like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and large language models, healthcare providers can optimise their coding processes. Integrating digital records with various clinical systems, including the My Health Record, further enhances the overall efficiency and quality of healthcare services.
Financial and Operational Challenges
Despite the clear benefits of digitisation, implementing such systems is challenging. Cost remains a significant barrier, particularly in the private healthcare sector, where return on investment (ROI) is a critical consideration. Ravi acknowledged these financial challenges but pointed out the intangible benefits of digitising records, such as improved workforce flexibility and the ability to recruit and retain skilled coders.
Privacy and Security Concerns
While digitisation offers numerous benefits, privacy and security concerns need to be rigorously addressed. Transitioning from paper-based systems to digital platforms involves handling sensitive patient data . Privacy concerns create barriers to offshoring and outsourcing health data , which emphasises the need for robust data protection measures. Ensuring that digitisation processes comply with privacy regulations is crucial for maintaining patient trust and safeguarding health information.
Ultimately, the Goal is Better Patient Care
The goal of digitising medical records and integrating AI into clinical coding is to enhance patient care. Instant access to accurate and comprehensive medical records supports timely and effective treatment decisions. Additionally, digitisation reduces the administrative burden on healthcare providers, enabling them to focus more on patient care and clinical outcomes.
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Takeaways for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals facing similar challenges can take several steps to future-proof their systems. Firstly, investing in AI and digital technologies is essential for enhancing medical record-keeping and clinical coding efficiency and accuracy. Secondly, maintaining a flexible and supportive work environment for clinical coders can help attract and retain scarce talent. Finally, addressing privacy and security concerns through robust data protection measures is critical for maintaining patient trust and compliance with regulations.
The initial focus should be on digitising records for coding and auditing, with future plans to onboard VMOs and integrate their systems for better interoperability . By adopting a phased approach to digitisation, healthcare providers can navigate the complexities of digital transformation and achieve long-term success.
Embracing the Future of Healthcare
Embracing digital innovation is crucial for navigating the complexities of the healthcare landscape and enhancing patient care. By focusing on practical solutions and collaborative approaches, healthcare providers can unlock the full potential of digital health and pave the way for a healthier future.
Keep an eye out for the details of our Spring Summit happening in November of this year. For more information, go to?talkinghealthtech.com/summit .?
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Senior Client Development Executive
1 个月Enjoyed listening to this, super job as usual Peter. Great to be part of this space providing AI solutions to leverage technology, addressing these workforce challenges; ensuring our hospitals both in public and private are maximising their revenue, decreasing cost per patient and improving healthcare delivery. Exciting times ahead for digital health innovation!
Digital health enthusiast
1 个月Great discussion of an essential topic. AI presents a huge opportunity in clinical coding. Highly skilled and rare, clinical coders should be treated as precious resources. Using AI to do the drudgery and coders to check this and finalise is the way to go. Happily this and more is now possible with new AI enabled clinical coding tools.