Announcement: Recommendations for Improving External-Cause-of-Injury Coding in State-Based Data Systems

Improving external-cause-of-injury coding (E-coding) can provide better data for setting priorities for injury prevention and trauma care programs and evaluating their effectiveness at the federal, state, and local levels. CDC is providing national leadership in an effort to develop and implement strategies and action plans to improve E-coding in state morbidity data systems. In February 2009, CDC conducted a partners meeting to discuss E-coding issues relevant to state morbidity data systems and to make recommendations for improvements.

CDC has released a report summarizing actions recommended by participants in the February meeting aimed at 1) improving communication and collaboration among stakeholders, 2) demonstrating a business case for high-quality E-coding, 3) improving the collection of high-quality E-coded data, and 4) improving and promoting the usefulness of E-coded data for state injury prevention efforts. This report, Recommended Actions to Improve External-Cause-of-Injury Coding in State-Based Hospital Discharge and Emergency Department Data Systems, is now available at http://www.cdc.gov/injury/data/ecode_report.html.

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Date last reviewed: 12/2/2009