Poster Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2025

Five years of the Australia and New Zealand Stroke Coding Working Group (#123)

Monique F Kilkenny 1 2 , Ailie Sanders 1 , Catherine Burns 1 , Justan Banihashemi 3 , Kaela Braue 4 , Dominique A Cadilhac 1 2 , Helen Carter 2 , Ngoc Dang 5 , Alan Davis 6 , Valery Feigin 7 , Seana L Gall 8 , Mary Kouvas 9 , Miriam Lum On 10 , Chris Moser 11 , Lee Nedkoff 12 13 , Muideen Olaiya 1 , Carla Read 14 , Sally Richardson 15 , Merilyn Riley 15 , Anna Ranta 16 , Lauren Sanders 5 17
  1. Monash University, Clayton, VICTORIA, Australia
  2. Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  4. The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  5. St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
  6. Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
  7. National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
  8. Menzies Institute of Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  9. Northern Health, Epping, Victoria, Australia
  10. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Austarlia
  11. NSW Ministry of Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  12. Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Centre, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  13. Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  14. Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  15. School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
  16. Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
  17. University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Background: Accurate identification of stroke using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-AM) codes is needed for efficient and reliable disease surveillance.

Aims: The Australia and New Zealand Stroke Coding Working Group aims to improve the quality of clinical documentation and clinical coding for stroke. We describe progress since the group formed in 2020.

Methods: The group meets quarterly and comprises health information managers (HIMs), clinical coders, stroke registry representatives, neurologists, stroke physicians, database managers, epidemiologists, statisticians and government representatives (AIHW, Victorian and NSW Departments of Health). The initiatives of the group include i) free stroke coding education program; ii) free stroke clinical documentation education program; iii) a validation study to compare brain imaging reports with ICD-10-AM codes and clinician diagnoses in the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry. To support improved documentation and coding practice, a submission was made to the Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA).

Results: Over 16 meetings, with an average of 15 attendees each. The education program has reached >1600 HIMs and clinical coders, significantly improving knowledge in 9/12 aspects of stroke knowledge. The 10-minute self-paced stroke clinical documentation education program is currently being implemented for clinicians in Australia and New Zealand. Data collection is underway for the imaging validation study at four Australian hospitals. Our submission to IHACPA has resulted in changes to the Australian Coding Standards for stroke in the ICD-10-AM Thirteenth Edition.

Conclusion: The long-term impact of these initiatives will be evaluated including ongoing monitoring of coding using stroke registry and government administrative data.