Read Codes V2 and Clinical Terms V3 Cross-maps

Overview

The UK Terminology Centre and the NHS Classifications Service maintain links from clinical terms (Read Codes V2, Clinical Terms V3, SNOMED CT) to classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) that are known as ‘cross-maps’.

The cross-maps are tools used to support the transformation of clinical terms recorded in the patient record into classification codes (ICD-10 and OPCS-4) that are then used to satisfy mandatory data collections and submissions, such as the Admitted Patient Care Commissioning Data Set and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

The cross-maps provide formal and rigorous mechanisms for systems to automate or semi-automate the generation of classification codes, derived from the terminologies, to satisfy secondary use cases such as epidemiology, research, clinical governance, commissioning, Payment by Results, clinical audit, etc.

The cross-maps are provided by the NHS Classifications Service via the Technology Reference data Update Distribution (TRUD) mechanism as a supporting product of the terminology release.

Why your views matter

The Read Codes V2 and Clinical Terms V3 to classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) ‘cross-maps’ are legacy products that undergo periodic review.

The reasons for this review are to:

• gain an understanding of the level and nature of use of the cross-maps to help us to ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively on legacy products that are required and in use within the NHS
• establish whether the Read Codes V2 and Clinical Terms V3 cross-maps remain fit for purpose
• understand users’ future plans and timescales
• inform the Department of Health’s commitment to reduce the number of terminologies in use from 2015, as expressed in the ‘The Power of Information: Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need’ http://informationstrategy.dh.gov.uk/.  This will allow better integration between systems and across health and social care, thus enabling the provision of better information to support care and improvement of care.

We are contacting as wide a range of users and potential users, as possible, including those parties who have used the UK Terminology Centre distribution service (TRUD) to download Read Code data files.The consultation invites interested parties to complete this questionnaire either individually or on behalf of their organisation by 9 September 2013.

What we have done so far

We have taken advice about the consultation exercise from representatives on the UK Terminology Centre Governance Board.

What will happen next

The consultation will be kept open for a three month period, and will be open for completion from 10 June – 9 September 2013.

Following the online consultation, the Health and Social Care Information Centre will analyse the findings and a report will be produced for the UK Terminology Centre Governance Board.  We will also publish the summary of findings.

There will be no immediate change following this review.  However the information gathered will be used to inform maintenance of legacy products and resources as well as the Department of Health route-map for information standards.

What happens next

Following the online consultation, the Health and Social Care Information Centre will analyse the findings and a report will be produced for the UK Terminology Centre Governance Board.  We will also publish the summary of findings.

There will be no immediate change following this review.  However the information gathered will be used to inform maintenance of legacy products and resources as well as the Department of Health route-map for information standards.