Reasoning around moving to CCI and our subset of it

This article explains our choice of CCI as a procedure coding schema and of the subset of codes we include.

Why are we moving to a new procedure coding schema?

• Our old diagnosis list was made in-house designed mostly for the Critical Care setting where our database started out. In that data set we combined diagnoses and procedures.
• A serious limitation of the current/old system is that it did not distinguish procedures from diagnoses. For example, CABG was considered as a diagnosis, when it's actually a procedure done for a diagnosis of Coronary artery disease, chronic (atherosclerosis, chronic ischemic heart disease).

Why are we moving to CCI rather than a different coding schema?

• Going along with the diagnosis coding in ICD10, the Canadian national standard usrd by CIHI for coding of procedures of all types is Canadian Classification of Interventions (CCI)

Why do we not include the entire set of CCI codes

• We have made a number of adaptations so we don't need to use all 18,000 codes.
• Small and common procedures can be so frequent that collecting all would have significantly increased collection efforts.
• It's OK to exclude these because if something important comes of them, it will be reflected in the ICD10 collection.
• For a listing of procedures that we have consciously chosen not to code, see List of CCI procedures we don't code.
• See List of CCI procedures we don't code#Background for some additional related info.

Why are we including the subset of procedures that we do

• The current list of procedures we're seeking to code is based on: (a) the procedures that were being coded in the past, (b) user input, and (c) to allow coding of all relevant procedures that satisfy the rules in CCI Collection.
• It may well happen that as more users utilize our databases that the list of procedures we want to code will increase.

Why some things are CCI Picklist codes and some CCI Component codes

By default, codes will be coded as CCI Components. Codes will be implemented as CCI Picklist entries:

• because they are very specific (i.e. have long sub-codes) and we want that level of detail (e.g. Cardiac electrophysiology study)
• because they contain a CCI component 2 codes - what was done that only applies to few organ systems ( e.g. Electroconvulsive (Shock) Therapy to Brain)
• they are not Therapeutic Procedures, Diagnostic Procedures or Imaging Procedures (Miscellaneous Procedure and Other Healthcare Interventions contain oddballs that don't lend themselves to component coding, and Obstetric Procedure don't apply to other organ systems )