The Coding Workforce Study 2010 Vicki Bennett Acting Head, Continuing and Specialised Care Group

What is the Coding Workforce? “A Report on the Clinical Coders, Health Information Managers and Costing Specialists (Coding Workforce) Shortfall”

What was requested? Conduct a survey to provide quantifiable number of coding staff currently employed and their demographics and also identify projected numbers for the future to cover the anticipated increased demand Produce a report on the activities currently being implemented in the jurisdictions to address these issues Provide recommendations on a way forward for a more consolidated national strategy to address future needs, taking into account e-health and broader developments

What was done? –Historical overview –International experiences New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, UK, USA –Environmental changes Health reform ABF Performance reporting E-Health Changes in educational offerings

What was done? –Jurisdictional ‘stories’ Issues Strategies –Case studies Gold Coast HSD, Qld Greater Western AHS, NSW

The Current Workforce –ABS Census of 2001 and 2006 –Coder Workforce Studies and 2002 –Jurisdictional data on HIMs and CCs –Survey Online survey of 9 questions + free text Sent to all hospitals’ coding manager – public and private – approx 1400 Analysis of free text Contract coding companies

Survey data analysis –Based on FTE’s not actual number of people –Used hospital discharge data –Analysed by hospital peer groups –Developments over time

Assistance from industry Appreciation to HIMAA and CCSA and their members for assisting with ensuring the response rate was as high as it was.

HIM Graduates

Clinical Coders trained through HIMAA and OTEN

Age at enrolment in HIMAA Introductory Course

Used the current workforce numbers and throughput figures to model needs and produce projection estimates High and low projections Natural growth in discharges over time Commencement of coding of OOS E-health and other reform implications Future workforce needs

Used the data to model needs and produce projections Coder Workforce: stocks and flows

15 recommended actions –Immediate –Short-term –Long-term More analysis to be done, especially on Costing Specialists Action!

Report to be produced soon….so watch this space When can you see it?