Exploring the use of the Swiss medical tariffication codes (TARMED) in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinations
In population surveys of the exposure to medical X-rays both the frequency of examinations and the effective dose per examination are required. The use of the Swiss medical tariffication system (TARMED) for establishing the frequency of X-ray medical examinations was explored. The method was t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)
2012-09-01
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| Series: | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1586 |
| _version_ | 1797979565587431424 |
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| author | Régis Le Coultre Abbas Aroua Eleni Theano Samara Maxime Rochat Stéphane Coendoz Francis Robert Verdun |
| author_facet | Régis Le Coultre Abbas Aroua Eleni Theano Samara Maxime Rochat Stéphane Coendoz Francis Robert Verdun |
| author_sort | Régis Le Coultre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
In population surveys of the exposure to medical X-rays both the frequency of examinations and the effective dose per examination are required. The use of the Swiss medical tariffication system (TARMED) for establishing the frequency of X-ray medical examinations was explored. The method was tested for radiography examinations performed in 2008 at the Lausanne University Hospital. The annual numbers of radiographies determined from the “TARMED” database are in good agreement with the figures extracted from the local RIS (Radiology Information System). The “TARMED” is a reliable and fast method for establishing the frequency of radiography examination, if we respect the context in which the “TARMED” code is used. In addition, this billing context provides most valuable information on the average number of radiographs per examination as well as the age and sex distributions. Radiographies represent the major part of X-ray examinations and are performed by about 4,000 practices and hospitals in Switzerland. Therefore this method has the potential to drastically simplify the organisation of nationwide surveys. There are still some difficulties to overcome if the method is to be used to assess the frequency of computed tomography or fluoroscopy examinations; procedures that deliver most of the radiation dose to the population. This is due to the poor specificity of “TARMED” codes concerning these modalities. However, the use of CT and fluoroscopy installations is easier to monitor using conventional survey methods since there are fewer centres. Ways to overcome the “TARMED” limitations for these two modalities are still being explored.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:40:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee76fdd3e19744a89e3a8fa3fad3f0d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-3997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:40:43Z |
| publishDate | 2012-09-01 |
| publisher | SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee76fdd3e19744a89e3a8fa3fad3f0d52022-12-22T04:42:32ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972012-09-01142394010.4414/smw.2012.13677Exploring the use of the Swiss medical tariffication codes (TARMED) in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinationsRégis Le CoultreAbbas ArouaEleni Theano SamaraMaxime RochatStéphane CoendozFrancis Robert Verdun In population surveys of the exposure to medical X-rays both the frequency of examinations and the effective dose per examination are required. The use of the Swiss medical tariffication system (TARMED) for establishing the frequency of X-ray medical examinations was explored. The method was tested for radiography examinations performed in 2008 at the Lausanne University Hospital. The annual numbers of radiographies determined from the “TARMED” database are in good agreement with the figures extracted from the local RIS (Radiology Information System). The “TARMED” is a reliable and fast method for establishing the frequency of radiography examination, if we respect the context in which the “TARMED” code is used. In addition, this billing context provides most valuable information on the average number of radiographs per examination as well as the age and sex distributions. Radiographies represent the major part of X-ray examinations and are performed by about 4,000 practices and hospitals in Switzerland. Therefore this method has the potential to drastically simplify the organisation of nationwide surveys. There are still some difficulties to overcome if the method is to be used to assess the frequency of computed tomography or fluoroscopy examinations; procedures that deliver most of the radiation dose to the population. This is due to the poor specificity of “TARMED” codes concerning these modalities. However, the use of CT and fluoroscopy installations is easier to monitor using conventional survey methods since there are fewer centres. Ways to overcome the “TARMED” limitations for these two modalities are still being explored. https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1586automated data collectionfrequency of X-ray examinationstariffication codesTarmed codes |
| spellingShingle | Régis Le Coultre Abbas Aroua Eleni Theano Samara Maxime Rochat Stéphane Coendoz Francis Robert Verdun Exploring the use of the Swiss medical tariffication codes (TARMED) in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinations Swiss Medical Weekly automated data collection frequency of X-ray examinations tariffication codes Tarmed codes |
| title | Exploring the use of the Swiss medical tariffication codes (TARMED) in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinations |
| title_full | Exploring the use of the Swiss medical tariffication codes (TARMED) in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinations |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the use of the Swiss medical tariffication codes (TARMED) in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the use of the Swiss medical tariffication codes (TARMED) in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinations |
| title_short | Exploring the use of the Swiss medical tariffication codes (TARMED) in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinations |
| title_sort | exploring the use of the swiss medical tariffication codes tarmed in the establishment of the frequency of radiodiagnostic examinations |
| topic | automated data collection frequency of X-ray examinations tariffication codes Tarmed codes |
| url | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1586 |
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