a comparison with the stated use case using a proper sample of
map records is necessary.
Organizations should also complete additional general vali-
dation reviews, including:
Organizations should perform an “in use” review and valida-
tion check, including:
Vendor-Developed Maps
It is now common for terminology developers and distributors
to develop their own mappings or to extend standards development organization or government maps in what the vendor
terms a “value add.” EHR vendors may also develop and incorporate maps into their products. Before an organization uses
a vendor-developed map, it must evaluate the map according
to the mapping principles outlined above, just as it would any
nonauthoritative map.
In addition, an organization’s due diligence should include requesting references from organizations currently using the map,
as well as knowing who and how many other organizations use
the map. Vendor-developed maps can help enormously with
map implementation and use if the organization understands
the product and assesses it with the framework of their needs
and requirements.
There are no standards for health data maps, nor is there a certification program for health information or health data maps
such as exists for many other technology standards. Thus, it is
up to users to ensure that the maps are appropriate for their purposes and meet their needs. ¢
Notes
1. International Organization for Standardization. “Mapping
of Terminologies to Classifications.” 05-31-2010 ISO TC
215/SC N, ISO 2010.
2. Giannangelo, Kathy. Transitioning to ICD-10-CM/PCS: The
Essential Guide to General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs).
Chicago, IL: AHIMA, 2011.
3. International Organization for Standardization. “Mapping
of Terminologies to Classifications.”
4. Imel, Margo, Kathy Giannangelo, and Brian Levy. “
Essentials for Mapping from a Clinical Terminology.” 2004
IFHRO Congress and AHIMA Convention Convention Proceedings, October 2004. Available online in the AHIMA
Body of Knowledge at www.ahima.org.
Resources
AHIMA. “Putting the ICD-10-CM/PCS GEMs into Practice.”
Journal of AHIMA 81, no. 3 (Mar. 2010): 46–52. Available
online in the AHIMA Body of Knowledge at www.ahima.org.
Foley, Margaret, et al. “Translation Please: Mapping Translates
Clinical Data between the Many Languages That Document
It.” Journal of AHIMA 78, no. 2 (Feb. 2007): 34–38. Available
online in the AHIMA Body of Knowledge at www.ahima.org.
Prepared By
June Bronnert, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P
Jill Clark, MBA, RHIA
Jane Cook, CPC
Susan Fenton, PhD, RHIA
Rita Scichilone, MHSA, RHIA, CCS, CSS-P
Margaret Williams, AM
Pat Wilson, RT(R), CPC
Acknowledgments
Kathy Giannangelo, MA, RHIA, CCS, CPHIMS, FAHIMA
AHIMA House of Delegate Best Practice and Standards Team
AHIMA Quality and Secondary Data Practice Council
The information contained in this practice brief reflects the consensus opinion of the professionals who developed it. It has not been validated through scientific research.
† Indicates an AHIMA best practice. Best practices are available in the AHIMA Compendium, http://compendium.ahima.org.
