NCCQ theory OPCS
How many steps make up the OPCS coding process? - ANS>>4
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is step one of the OPCS four step coding process? - ANS>>Analyse
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
procedural/interventional terminology to determine lead term(s) and modifier(s
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is step two of the OPCS four step coding process? - ANS>>Locate the lead term(s)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
in the Alphabetical Index (OPCS-4 Volume II)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is step three of the OPCS four step coding process? - ANS>>Assign a tentative
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
code(s) using the Alphabetical Index and taking into account all rules, conventions and
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
standards
jj
What is step four of the OPCS four step coding process? - ANS>>Verify the code(s)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
using the Tabular List (OPCS-4 Volume I) and taking into account instructional notes
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is the definition of an intervention within OPCS? - ANS>>Interventions are those
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
aspects of clinical care carried out on patients undergoing treatment:
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
• for the prevention, diagnosis, care or relief of disease;
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
• for the correction of deformity or deficit, including those performed for cosmetic
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
reasons; and
jj jj jj
• associated with pregnancy, childbirth or contraceptive or procreative management.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
Typically this will be: jj jj jj jj
• surgical in nature; and/or
jj jj jj jj jj
• carries a procedural risk; and/or
jj jj jj jj jj jj
• carries an anaesthetic risk; and/or
jj jj jj jj jj jj
• requires specialist training; and/or
jj jj jj jj jj
• requires special facilities or equipment only available in an acute care setting
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
How many chapters are there within OPCS-4? What do they cover? - ANS>>There are
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
24 chapters in total within the OPCS-4 classification.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
These comprise 20 chapters covering individual body systems (Chapters A-T and V-W)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
One for diagnostic imaging, testing and rehabilitation procedures (Chapter U)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
One for miscellaneous procedures and operations covering multiple systems, e.g.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
transfusion, resuscitation (Chapter X). There are also two additional chapters providing
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
subsidiary classifications, one for methods of operation (Chapter Y) and the other for
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
sites and laterality of operation (Chapter Z).
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is the main axis of classification within OPCS-4? - ANS>>Body system
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
, What further/more specific axis of classification exists within OPCS-4 apart from body
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
system? - ANS>>Within any particular body system the axis is the organ and within any
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
particular organ the axis is the specific operation/intervention.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
The operations/interventions are broadly listed in descending order of complexity, give
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
these levels of complexity and an example of a procedure for each. - ANS>>Major -
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
Total removal jj jj
Functional replacement jj jj
Transplant jj
Intermediate - jj jj
Partial removal jj jj
Partial destruction jj jj
Reconstruction Repair jj jj
Minor - jj jj
Biopsy jj
Incision jj
Aspiration jj
Non-operative procedures - jj jj jj
Injection jj
Examination jj
Scan/Imaging jj
Screening
In some chapters the major-minor hierarchy of complexity principle is either not
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
applicable or not as evident as it should be, why is this? - ANS>>Due to capacity issues
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What character level must code assignment be made to within OPCS-4 for it to be valid?
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
- ANS>>Code assignment must always be made to four character level to make the
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
code valid.
jj jj
What is the name for subcategory, 'Other specified' .8, and an 'Unspecified' .9? -
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
ANS>>Residual subcategories
jj jj
When are .8 codes used? - ANS>>The use of the residual subcategory .8 follows the
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
axis of the classification within the category and is used when the procedural method to
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
be coded has been specified but is not classified at any of the other four character codes
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
within the category.
jj jj jj
.8 codes from extended categories must not be used
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
When are .9 codes used? - ANS>>The use of the unspecified subcategory .9 also
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
follows the axis of the classification within the category and is used when the procedural
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
method to be coded has not been specified and therefore not enough detail has been
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
provided to use any of the other codes (.1 to .8) within the category.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
How many steps make up the OPCS coding process? - ANS>>4
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is step one of the OPCS four step coding process? - ANS>>Analyse
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
procedural/interventional terminology to determine lead term(s) and modifier(s
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is step two of the OPCS four step coding process? - ANS>>Locate the lead term(s)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
in the Alphabetical Index (OPCS-4 Volume II)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is step three of the OPCS four step coding process? - ANS>>Assign a tentative
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
code(s) using the Alphabetical Index and taking into account all rules, conventions and
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
standards
jj
What is step four of the OPCS four step coding process? - ANS>>Verify the code(s)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
using the Tabular List (OPCS-4 Volume I) and taking into account instructional notes
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is the definition of an intervention within OPCS? - ANS>>Interventions are those
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
aspects of clinical care carried out on patients undergoing treatment:
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
• for the prevention, diagnosis, care or relief of disease;
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
• for the correction of deformity or deficit, including those performed for cosmetic
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
reasons; and
jj jj jj
• associated with pregnancy, childbirth or contraceptive or procreative management.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
Typically this will be: jj jj jj jj
• surgical in nature; and/or
jj jj jj jj jj
• carries a procedural risk; and/or
jj jj jj jj jj jj
• carries an anaesthetic risk; and/or
jj jj jj jj jj jj
• requires specialist training; and/or
jj jj jj jj jj
• requires special facilities or equipment only available in an acute care setting
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
How many chapters are there within OPCS-4? What do they cover? - ANS>>There are
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
24 chapters in total within the OPCS-4 classification.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
These comprise 20 chapters covering individual body systems (Chapters A-T and V-W)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
One for diagnostic imaging, testing and rehabilitation procedures (Chapter U)
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
One for miscellaneous procedures and operations covering multiple systems, e.g.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
transfusion, resuscitation (Chapter X). There are also two additional chapters providing
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
subsidiary classifications, one for methods of operation (Chapter Y) and the other for
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
sites and laterality of operation (Chapter Z).
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What is the main axis of classification within OPCS-4? - ANS>>Body system
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
, What further/more specific axis of classification exists within OPCS-4 apart from body
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
system? - ANS>>Within any particular body system the axis is the organ and within any
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
particular organ the axis is the specific operation/intervention.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
The operations/interventions are broadly listed in descending order of complexity, give
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
these levels of complexity and an example of a procedure for each. - ANS>>Major -
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
Total removal jj jj
Functional replacement jj jj
Transplant jj
Intermediate - jj jj
Partial removal jj jj
Partial destruction jj jj
Reconstruction Repair jj jj
Minor - jj jj
Biopsy jj
Incision jj
Aspiration jj
Non-operative procedures - jj jj jj
Injection jj
Examination jj
Scan/Imaging jj
Screening
In some chapters the major-minor hierarchy of complexity principle is either not
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
applicable or not as evident as it should be, why is this? - ANS>>Due to capacity issues
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
What character level must code assignment be made to within OPCS-4 for it to be valid?
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
- ANS>>Code assignment must always be made to four character level to make the
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
code valid.
jj jj
What is the name for subcategory, 'Other specified' .8, and an 'Unspecified' .9? -
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
ANS>>Residual subcategories
jj jj
When are .8 codes used? - ANS>>The use of the residual subcategory .8 follows the
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
axis of the classification within the category and is used when the procedural method to
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
be coded has been specified but is not classified at any of the other four character codes
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
within the category.
jj jj jj
.8 codes from extended categories must not be used
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
When are .9 codes used? - ANS>>The use of the unspecified subcategory .9 also
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
follows the axis of the classification within the category and is used when the procedural
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
method to be coded has not been specified and therefore not enough detail has been
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
provided to use any of the other codes (.1 to .8) within the category.
jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj jj
