A Decision Aiding Methodology to Compare Patient Classification Systems

Abstract

Spanish Public Hospitals funding uses a classification of patients into groups having the same condition, complexity, and needs. These groups are known as Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG). The data source used for this classification is periodically changed. In January 2016, Spain adopted a new data source and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) passed from ICD-9 to ICD-10. A new system of patient classification had to be adopted, to accept information coded with ICD-10. An intervention of decision aiding was activated to initiate a process of reflection on what would be the most appropriate patient classification system once the current system had become obsolete. The process of reflecting on how to make the best decision posed some difficulties that are quite common in many decision aid processes. Their presentation, commentary, and explanation can therefore help in other situations.