A Note on Clinical Coding – On Behalf of the BSG IPC
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 08:11
Members in private practice will be aware of the need to accurately assign procedure codes when they submit invoices for payment to private medical insurers in the UK.
These codes were originally developed by BUPA, and were loosely based on NHS codes though their purpose was simply to help with reimbursement arrangements. Codes used by the NHS focused on activity and epidemiology rather than financial flows though with the development of Payment By Results and 'tariff', NHS coding needs are changing.
Several private medical insurers are now working together to maintain and develop a consistent coding schedule. They work together as the Clinical Coding Schedule Development (CCSD) group. They respond to developments in clinical practice by assigning new codes where existing codes cannot capture the complexity of a new procedure. The group does not dictate fee levels, decisions about which remain with the individual insurers. Although some private medical insurers are not members of CCSD, they all make use of the group's output. The codes may be built into commercially-produced private practice management software too.
Independent EWTD Review
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 12:36
Issued by the News Distribution Service on behalf of NHS Medical Education England (MEE)
Professor Sir John Temple has launched his report ‘Time for Training’, an independent review of the impact of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) on the quality of training for doctors, dentists, pharmacists and healthcare scientists.
The report was commissioned by Medical Education England (MEE) at the request of the former Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson.
Sir John’s report concludes that high quality training can be delivered within the reduced number of hours available but fails if trainees:
- have the major role in providing out of hours service;
- are poorly supervised; or
- have limited access to learning.
'Time for Training' focuses on the quality of training provided now and says any current problems will not be solved by either increasing hours or lengthening training programmes.
The Review reveals that, despite an increase of more than 60 percent in consultant numbers over the past ten years, hospitals remain too reliant on junior doctors to provide out of hours services.Survey of Hepatology Service Provision 2010
Thursday, 27 May 2010 13:43
In 2004 Professor Roger Williams identified 34 centres in England and Wales as offering specialist hepatology services, including 6 liver transplant centres. This March 2010 report is based on a follow up survey six years later. With other sources the survey will help to build a picture of hepatology services in 2010 and how they might be developed.
- Hepatology Service Provision Survey 2010 [ 3.26 Mb ]
Bowel Cancer Deaths Halve
Wednesday, 21 April 2010 12:54
Deaths from bowel cancer have almost halved over the past 40 years in England, new official figures have shown. Mortality rates from colorectal cancer decreased by 47% for women and by 35% for men between 1971 and 2008, according to the Office of National Statistics.
In 2008, approximately 7,200 men and 6,100 women died from colorectal cancer in England. The figures also show that survival rates for colorectal cancer have doubled since 1971.
Early detection of complications of gastrostomy
Thursday, 08 April 2010 09:27
An NPSA Rapid Response Report
At the beginning of April the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) issued a Rapid Response Report to the NHS on complications after gastronomy. The chair of the BSG Small Bowel/Nutrition section acted as an advisor to NPSA. Commenting on the report David Sanders said, "the BSG considers the issues surrounding both the seection of patients for gastronomy placement and the avoidance of complications to be of great importance. The BSG has previously produced clinical guidelines and, more recently, collaborated with the Royal College of Physicians on a report designed to improve standards of care for patients referred for or having a gastronomy".
- Supporting Information [ 150 Kb ]
- Report [ 72 Kb ]
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