Computer Assisted Code for Medical/Health Institutions

Computer Assisted Code is a technological based method that generates codes to solve problems on assigned data/information. This method has been tried, tested and implemented on medical and health institutions in some countries and widely in USA. It uses standardized medical codes i.e. ICD or CPT in managing medical records and documents.

 

The Computer Assisted Code concept utilises artificial intelligence that is embedded in software or an application to generate and assign codes accurately to medical records. The process is fully automated and uses a database that utilizes medical algorithms in assigning codes to medical records/documents.

 

Computer Assisted Code produces output that enables the maintenance of a repository of electronically maintained data/information of an individual’s or patients’ lifetime health status and health care. This data/information is stored is very useful to medical practitioners. This aids the goal towards the achievement of “managed care” which focuses on the “wellness-illness-recovery” model. Outcomes of Computer Assisted Code also enable practitioners to organize, interpret, and react to data/information accurately and timeously.

 

 

A summary view of Computer Assisted Code output will show the following clinical summary of patient data:

·         Past and active patient’s problems,

·         Past and active patient’s medications/treatments,

·         Patient’s medication allergies,

·         recent observations,

·         other relevant summary information.

 

Computer Assisted Coded accurately updates automatically the data/information on a patient’s visit to a medical practitioner/institution/health care center.

 

Another feature of Computer Assisted Code is that it allows data/information to be displayed in different formats that are suitable for their interpretation. The Data/information can be organized to guide care for a single patient or in aggregate form in helping practitioners to develop vaccines for a virus or infection that may be affecting a certain population or region.

 

With the aid of information management tools, the usefulness of data/information generated by Computer Assisted Code can be extended towards research purposes. Linkages can be created to facilitate communication and decision making among researchers. 

 

Computer Assisted Code also produces turn-around documents in the form of tailor-generated reports to present information to users. This enables direct capture of medical information for practitioners based at different locations/environments. Other Benefits of Computer Assisted Code include reduced operational costs and improvement in quality of service.

Considering the above, the decision to implement a Computer Assisted Code system is considered strategic towards the attainment of the medical/health institution’s goals/objectives.

 

Barnett G.O. (1984). The Application of Computer-Based Medical Record Systems in Ambulatory Practice.

New England Journal of Medicine, 310(25):1643-1650.

 

Collen M.F. (1995). A History of Medical Informatics in the United States 1950-1990. Indianapolis:

American Medical Informatics Association, Hartman Publishing.

 

Institute of Medicine Committee on Improving the Patient Record. (1997).

The Computer Based Patient-Record: An Essential Technology for Health Care (2nd ed).

Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.