470 – Winter Summit 2024 Session 3: Break Glass – When the Clinical Coding Workforce Can’t Be Found
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Ravi Carothers, Head of Health Fund Relations and Revenue at Healthe Care Australia, Nicole Payne, Head of Transformation of Revenue Cycle Management at Healthscope, and Chris Mitchell, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Hunter New England Local Health District about clinical coding workforce shortages and the role of digitising medical records in addressing this issue.
This episode was recorded live at the Talking HealthTech Winter Summit 2024. The session focuses on how digitising medical records can mitigate clinical coder shortages in Australian hospitals and explores various strategies and technological innovations that can bridge gaps in clinical coding workforce availability.
Key Takeaways:
- Use of AI in Healthcare: AI is transitioning clinical coders to checkers rather than transcribers, aiming to increase workforce satisfaction and efficiency. AI will augment, not replace, human coders.
- Digital Medical Records by 2025: Healthscope’s goal is to move towards fully digital medical records by 2025 and outlines the launch of their AI task force for clinical coding.
- Challenges and Solutions: Addressing the difficulties in digitising medical records, particularly in cost implementation, data accuracy, and workforce shortages.
- Tertiary Storage of Records: Discussion on the future focus on the tertiary storage of old paper records and potential outsourcing options, aiming to support the healthcare workforce through digital systems.
- Workforce Flexibility: Numerous speakers stress the need for flexible work arrangements to attract and retain clinical coders, especially in remote or under-resourced areas.
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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