Can you please advise if there is any GP training for Coding? – We are a South Lanarkshire practice
Thanks for your question. Training for coding for GPs is important, SCIMP are aware that efforts are being put in place to incorporate informatics training is included in medical school undergraduate curriculums. In addition the Faculty of Clinical Informatics aims to advance clinical informatics by providing education and training for all health and social care staff qualified individuals. For a GP who wishes to develop their skills further in relation to terminology training they may wish to consider applying to join the Faculty of Clinical Informatics.
If you are seeking some basic training on coding for GPs this is usually practice directed. You may find that pointing GPs to SCIMP Guide to Read Codes could be beneficial. In addition, we have produced a document to help provide guidance for general practices in NHS Scotland on best practice for summarising medical records, which may assist.
The two current GP software suppliers in Scotland have their own resources to provide training regarding their particular software systems, if this is what you require, EMIS health and Vision.
In addition it would be wise for a practice to consider joining the Scottish National Users Group, they have their next virtual training day scheduled on 10th November 2020, although the focus of this is not solely coding.
As you will be aware, Read Codes are due to be replaced by SNOMED CT. Therefore if a clinician is planning on learning about coding it would be worth considering learning about SNOMED CT. There are several resources available NHS Digital have produced resources such as on how SNOMED CT is implemented and further training via clinical coding academies. In addition ITHSDO have produced their own online training about SNOMED CT, the starter tutorials can be accessed free of charge.