Clinical coding workshop for Qatar health care community

The purpose of the workshop, hosted by the National Health Authority (NHA) with representation from Supreme Council of Information and Communication technology (ictQATAR) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), was to explore options for consistent national medical coding/terminology.

Attendees also discussed potential governance structure for a national system.

"Developing a national system for medical terminology and coding is fundamental to the advancement of Qatar's healthcare system," said Dr. Michael Walsh, CEO of NHA.

As part of its e-Health Program, ictQATAR is working to develop an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system for all citizens and residents who benefit from Qatar's public healthcare system.

A national system of medical terminology and coding is vital to the implementation of an effective EHR system.

"Information and communication technology can revolutionize the healthcare system in Qatar. An electronic health record will allow clinicians to access patients' health information directly at the point of care, resulting in enhanced patient safety and quality of care" said Dr. Yasir Khan, Clinical Advisor for ictQATAR.

Numerous other countries have implemented national systems for medical terminology and coding.

One of the most widely used systems is the World Health Organization International Classification of diseases or ICD, which focuses on common coding for signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes for disease or injury.

Another promising system is Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine--Clinical Terms or SNOMED CT which is a newer but a most extensive system of coding clinical information.

Representing both primary and secondary care, clinicians, nursing staff, public health professional, information & medical records experts, and IT professionals participated in the workshop.

"This system will ensure consistent use of terms for diseases, symptoms, drugs, treatments and medical procedures, as well as uniform reporting. This is a necessary step toward better, more informed medical care for the people of Qatar," said Dr. Hanan al Kuwari, Managing Director of Hamad Medical Corporation.