A Comparative Analysis of Financial Tariff Coding Accuracy Between NonClinical Coders and Orthopaedic Surgeons in A Large District Hospital–A Prospective Controlled Study

Accurate coding for trauma and orthopaedic surgical patients is crucial for reliable data collection, influencing income generation, national statistical analysis, and clinical performance benchmarks. Inaccurate coding can lead to misrepresentation of patient care, impacting the generated financial tariff. This study compares the accuracy of financial tariff coding between non-clinical coders and orthopaedic surgeons. In a prospective controlled study, 20 patients undergoing elective orthopaedic procedures were randomly selected from 219 consecutive admissions. Their procedures were independently coded by non-clinical coders (control group) and the surgeons (study group). Tariffs generated by both groups were then compared. Results showed that non-clinical coders produced identical tariff codes in 60% of cases, higher tariffs in 30%, and lower tariffs in 10%. On average, non-clinical coders generated £114.7 more per patient than the surgeons. These findings suggest that non-clinical coders can efficiently generate accurate financial tariffs, potentially reducing the need for direct input from busy orthopaedic surgeons