Clinical Coder Survey: Registration process

The Clinical Coder Working Group (CCWG) was established by the Education Committee in June 2021 and since then has been working on a major project to revise HIMAA’s 1996 Clinical Coder National Clinical Coder Competency Standard and Assessment Guide. The Working Group comprises 20 Members of HIMAA from all jurisdictions and the public and private hospital, and government, sectors.

An early decision was to produce a Performance Standard for Clinical Coders rather than a Competency Standard. A draft version of a Clinical Coder Performance Standard is now ready for broad industry review.

This HIMAA (Draft) Clinical Coder Performance Standard defines expected capabilities of staff employed as Clinical Coders across differing levels of employment (Trainee to Advanced and Auditor/Educator). It is envisaged the document will guide hospital clinical coding teams in terms of job role expectations and so promote national consistency of clinical coding performance across levels of engagement. It should be noted that these Performance Standards have a different role and function from professional competency standards (which HIMAA also produces).

The draft version consists of thirteen capabilities with role expectations listed across 4 employment levels as mentioned above. The thirteen capabilities are listed below.

Ensure commitment to clinical coding education
Abstract clinical information
Assign clinical codes
Communicate and engage with clinicians
Communicate with hospital management
Contribute coded and administrative data to data collection systems, using specialist software tools.
Understand funding models
Optimise clinical coding quality
Optimise clinical coding throughput/timelines
Respond to requests for coded data
Maintain ethical practice
Meet work Health and Safety requirements
Promote the role and value of clinical coding

A survey has been developed which will be made available in the last week of April 2023 along with a copy of the draft document. If you are working in a clinical coding role in Australia as a Trainee Clinical Coder, Clinical Coder, Advanced Clinical Coder, Auditor, Educator or Clinical Coding Manager we would like you to register to receive the survey link. You can do this by sending your name, state of residency and email address to ccwg@latrobe.edu.au

We encourage you to send this information to your clinical coding colleagues via your social media feeds or by email within your workplace. It is important that we reach all clinical coders.

We also encourage you to register even if you think you may not be able to complete a survey. The registration list may be used in the future to distribute further information about this work.

Clinical Coder Survey: Registration process

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