Introduction to AI-Assisted Coding
Northern Health is transitioning to AI-assisted coding to replace its legacy system, addressing inefficiencies and proactively tackling the challenges of a decreasing workforce. Its Health Information Services has adopted an end-to-end, integrated coding solution provided by Code Focus, which delivers real-time coding feedback and streamlines workflow, compliance, and reporting with AI assistance.
Benefits of the New System
This implementation will help ensure accurate reporting of Diagnosis Related Group assignments and National Weighted Activity Units and reduce errors and manual auditing, freeing up time for health information managers. The new system will provide real-time coding feedback, streamline workflow, compliance, and reporting, and help reduce the need for manual auditing.
The Larger Context
Turning to AI-assisted coding is part of Northern Health’s digital initiatives to address the challenges of rising care demand and a dwindling workforce. Global health systems will face a shortage of more than 10 million workers, including clinical coders, by the end of the decade, according to the World Health Organization’s projection.
The Impact of Workforce Shortage
The issue, which is now causing serious backlogs, delayed payments, and billing errors, is exacerbated by variations in medical coding systems and the rise in annual separations. In Australia, for example, separations increased by around 7%, from 11.3 million in 2018 to 12.1 million in 2022, based on data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Addressing the Challenges
"As annual separations rise, the AI component will reduce the need for scaling up the coding workforce, providing both cost savings and a proactive approach to clinical coding workforce shortages our industry is facing," said Odette Taylor, director of Northern Health’s Health Information Services. In its 2022 survey, Code Focus noted how health information managers wanted their organisations to invest more in analytics and auditing software to help them deliver quality coding.
Conclusion
The adoption of AI-assisted coding by Northern Health is a significant step towards addressing the challenges of a decreasing workforce and rising care demand. The new system will help ensure accurate reporting, reduce errors, and free up time for health information managers. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the use of AI-assisted coding is likely to become more widespread, helping to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services.
FAQs
- Q: What is AI-assisted coding?
A: AI-assisted coding is a system that uses artificial intelligence to help with medical coding, providing real-time feedback and streamlining workflow, compliance, and reporting. - Q: Why is Northern Health adopting AI-assisted coding?
A: Northern Health is adopting AI-assisted coding to address the challenges of a decreasing workforce and rising care demand, and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its healthcare services. - Q: How will AI-assisted coding help with workforce shortages?
A: The AI component will reduce the need for scaling up the coding workforce, providing both cost savings and a proactive approach to clinical coding workforce shortages. - Q: What are the benefits of AI-assisted coding?
A: The benefits of AI-assisted coding include accurate reporting, reduced errors, and freed-up time for health information managers.
