APHA approved a revised position statement, “Improving external cause coding in hospital discharge data.” This provides an opportunity for ICEHS members interested in policy or data issues to join in a wide array of collaborative efforts aimed at implementation of the recommendations.

The Public Policy Committee needs members of ICEHS to provide the infrastructure for the development and distribution of injury related policy initiatives. The Policy committee mission is to develop public positions on issues of relevance and benefit to members of ICEHS and advocate for their implementation as well as support relevant policy positions of other private organizations, public agencies or APHA sections.

In the spring of 2008, The CDC is expected to publish the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on the “Recommended Strategies to Improve E coding in State Based Hospital Discharge and Emergency Department Data Systems.” In addition to recent external cause coding position statements by APHA, CSTE, ASTHO, STIPDA and SAVIR, the MMWR this article will be the catalyst to enhance and improve E coding in the United States. It is expected to highlight ongoing efforts and to make three sets of recommendations:  (1) improve communication among stakeholders, (2) improve collections of E codes, and 3) improve the usefulness of E coded data for injury prevention efforts.

For 2008, the Public Policy Committee focus includes:

1. Implementation of recently approved APHA policy resolution on “Improving external cause coding in hospital discharge data”
2. Promotion of  awareness of the MMWR article devoted to external cause coding to be published in the Spring of 2008
3. Development of an external cause coding campaign tool kit
4. Promotion of ICEHS membership participation in relevant APHA advocacy initiatives.

According to Sue Gallagher, co-chair of the committee and a member of the Action Board of APHA, “This is the most important work in which the ICEHS section will engage to improve the quality of non fatal injury data for both practitioners and researchers over the next five years.”

The committee is recruiting additional energetic and collaborative ICEHS members to carry out these tasks:

1. Participate in a monthly conference call
2. Identify 20 organizations and draft a letter for APHA to send them re joining us on promoting external cause coding
3. Conduct follow-up phone calls with each recipient of the letter
4. Identify key organization responsible for hospital discharge data in each state and draft a letter for APHA to send them re promotion of external cause coding
5. In conjunction with STIPDA ask each state injury program director to do a follow-up call or meeting.
6. Develop three to five talking points relevant to external cause coding  for dissemination at the national state and local levels
7. Develop one page fact sheet with what ICEHS members can do at the local and state level to promote external cause coding
8. Revise the external cause code brochure “E Codes – the Missing Link in Injury Prevention”
9. Solicit funds or voluntary support for printing and dissemination of campaign materials.
10. Send campaign tool kit to all ICEHS members and identified national organizations.

Members interested in pursuing this exciting push forward for injury prevention are asked to contact

Co-Chairs:

Sue Gallagher (sue.gallagher@tufts.edu) or