Analysis of questions regarding morbidity coding posted to the online coding clinic of the Korean Medical Record Association.

Accuracy and consistency in morbidity coding are important in both clinical research and practice. However,Health Information Managers (HIMs) sometimes face difficulties in assigning morbidity codes. To assist them,the Korean Medical Record Association operates an online coding clinic bulletin board, on which HIMs can post questions and receive answers. Frequency analysis and Fisher's exact testing were performed to identify differences among the types of questions posted and the characteristics of the HIMs who posted them. Through statistical analysis, it was found that HIMs working at hospitals with fewer than 500 beds and those with more than 10 years of work experience were found to post more questions than other HIMs. The study also identified the characteristics of HIMs who require more coding education and particular diagnoses for which further training is required. Our findings will assist the development of coding procedures, guidelines, education programs, and a more user-friendly database.

Exporting doctoral education: experience of a state-supported university.

There is a demand for non-traditional doctoral education in healthcare management and policy among many countries in support of their health system reform efforts. Healthcare professionals need retooling to provide stewardship to complex new health financing systems. Most health service leaders are mid career professionals and cannot transplant themselves to study on American university campuses. They demand high quality programs, designed to enable most coursework to be completed overseas. Aided by recent distance education technology, the University of South Carolina's Department of Health Services Policy and Management developed and provides doctoral programs for working professionals in Taiwan and South Korea with a minimal and convenient campus attendance requirement. This paper presents the experience of setting up the programs, management, quality control, and benefits for both students overseas and for our Department's mission and on-campus programs. Our experience is that there are many challenges, but it is also rewarding from academic, scholarly, and financial perspectives.