Accuracy of clinical coding for oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) procedures

Abstract

Introduction: Clinical coding involves translation of surgical terminologies into a form which can be easily gathered and analysed at a later date facilitating growth and sharing of knowledge. However, the accuracy of collected data is paramount for this to happen. Most importantly, clinical coding has significant financial implications and any discrepancy in the assigned codes would directly affect a department's (and a hospital's) budget.