The Effect of Computer-Assisted Coding on Overall Coding Quality, Workflow, and Productivity

Implementation of computer assisted coding (CAC) has the potential to be used as a means of improving coding quality and accuracy through the identification of suggested diagnoses that might otherwise be missed by the human eye of the coder. This project explored the methods used to implement CAC as a means of mitigating scarce health information management (HIM) resources required for assignment of diagnosis and procedure codes. CAC has the potential to improve coding quality and accuracy while avoiding the potentially negative impact to coding productivity of new regulatory requirements such as implementation of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM/PCS).;The results of this project produced templates for use when implementing CAC including sample scope document, project plan, functional and user requirements, timeline communication plan, training plan and metrics which can be used to document the effect of CAC on HIM coding workflow, productivity, quality and future staffing needs. These templates may be used as a guide for CAC projects that will in turn lead new benchmarks and produce best practices for implementation of CAC that can be utilized by other HIM professionals in planning for future HIM Department staffing models.