General practice medical records: why code? Why classify?

Abstract

Recently, the Information Management Steering Group (IMSG) [a RACGP-AMA-Commonwealth Government committee responsible for the planning of information management in general practice], held a Coding Workshop at which available coding systems and their application in general practice computerised medical records were reviewed. As there has been in the past some discussion as to the value of coding, the workshop participants agreed that a paper outlining the reasons for coding and classifying clinical data should be prepared and disseminated to all general practitioners.