E-Code Report
Recommended Actions to Improve External-Cause-of-Injury Coding in State-Based Hospital Discharge and Emergency Department Data Systems
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing national leadership in an effort to develop and implement strategies and action plans to improve external-cause-of-injury coding (E-coding) in state morbidity data systems. Improving E-coding in state morbidity data systems can provide better data useful in setting priorities for injury prevention and trauma care programs and evaluating their effectiveness at the federal, state, and local levels. In February 2009, CDC conducted a partners meeting to discuss E-coding issues relevant to state morbidity data systems and make recommendations for improvements. This report summarizes actions recommended by participants of the February 2009 meeting aimed at:
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- Improving communication and collaboration among stakeholders,
- Demonstrating a business case for high-quality E-coding,
- Improving the collection of high-quality E-coded data, and
- Improving and promoting the usefulness of E-coded data for state injury prevention efforts.