ICD-11 Morbidity Pilot in Kuwait: Methodology and Lessons Learned for Future Implementation

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Mar 5;19(5):3057. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19053057.

Abstract

This paper reports on the first ICD-11 morbidity pilot for inpatient discharges in a public general hospital. We detail the pilot methodology, lessons learned in terms of facilitators and challenges, physician-reported opinion, and considerations for future implementation. The pilot included: engaging stakeholders; selecting the setting; building a common understanding of the discharge process; evaluating and preparing IT infrastructure; ICD-11 training; small-scale pre-pilot testing; implementing the pilot while providing on-site support and collecting data for analysis including a brief user-experience survey. Overall, physicians were satisfied with the experience. Facilitators for success included national health system influence, leadership commitment, a multidisciplinary team approach, physician-tailored training, using social media for training, and providing on-site support. Challenges included potential IT problems, and difficulties relating to training and engaging physicians. Issues to consider include DRG system requirements, and comparability of ICD-11 pilot results from different countries. In conclusion, ICD-11 can be successfully implemented for documenting diagnoses by physicians in a public hospital by installing the coding tool on the electronic hospital information system. Pilots can improve ICD-11 content by using the online proposal mechanism. Implementing ICD-11 requires effective change management, stakeholder-tailored communication, and innovative ideas for training to match the electronic nature of ICD-11 and its potential new users, physicians.

Keywords: ICD-11; Kuwait; electronic health information system; inpatient; morbidity coding; physician; pilot; training.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • International Classification of Diseases*
  • Kuwait
  • Leadership
  • Morbidity
  • Physicians*