Writing on GP-UK on the delay in the National Audit Office report:
cross posted to GP-PCPRP and Clinical Systems list servers.
>On 01/29/98 09:55:10, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
>> Perhaps it is time the whole thing was scrapped and we all went to
>> using ICD10 plus some 'patient-friendly' descriptions.
>
In article Ahmad Risk <[log in to unmask]> replied
>Or ICPC, or Galen, or ....
>
>I think you should be able to have a choice.
ICD10 is the source of many of the bizarre Read Codes, such as "hit by
hovercraft", and is a "classification", not a clinical terming language.
Read Codes map to ICD10 for purposes of national and international
comparisons, but ICD10 wouldn't help speedy recording of consultations,
illness concepts, medical decision support, etc, etc.
ICPC is certainly a possibility for classification of primary care, but
again isn't a terminology. It is used to classify encounters, but has
limited value to complete the electronic medical record.
GALEN is a system of knowledge representation, allowing terms to be
logically created. The developers in Manchester have been working with
people at NHSCCC to improve Read. It is not suitable (yet?) for a
clinical system.
There are at least two strong and compelling reasons for sticking with
the Read Codes :
1. communication between professionals. If we take Ahmad's advice and
all choose whatever we happen to fancy, then communication of "concepts"
rather than "words" will be very difficult. A GP can read "Patient has
DM" or "Diabetes Mellitus" and can get the gist, but a computer to
prompt for an HbA1C needs a Code.
2. the richness of the current terms. The long running saga of the NAO
report (which is still not published as far as I am aware) is a
distraction. We have a fantastic resource in Version 3 Read Codes,
which needs to be exploited for the NHS and it's patients.
Take a look at Version 3, with the superset of earlier versions (so no
need to map from what you are currently using) and the GP subset, you
may be pleasantly surprised.
I have lots of reasons to want progress here...
--
Jon Rogers Tel: 44 117 950 7100
Southmead Health Centre Fax: 44 117 944 5498
Bristol BS10 6DF UK e-mail: [log in to unmask]
GP and Member, North West Bristol Locality Commissioning Group
Treasurer, Primary Health Care Specialist Group
Chairman, GP Specialty Working Group, Read Codes
Medical Advisor, AAH Meditel
Member, Avon Local Medical Committee
Member, RCGP Informatics Group
Member, Avon Health Strategic Advisory Group
Member, National Association of Commissioning GPs
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