2024-09-04 Expert Group

This case was discussed in the Expert Group meeting and the following decisions were made. We kindly ask you to go through them, as well as the technical changes file (COMB_terminology_updates_2025.xlsx) attached. If you wish to comment on any of the changes, please do so by the 19th of September, after which the changes will be implemented.

Please remember that these changes concern only the Combined version and don’t affect the actual grouping.

1.      The use of the DRG short name

None of the countries actively uses the short name. However, we will keep the short names as they are at the moment. In the future, as new DRGs are added to the grouper, the short name will primarily be named the same as the long name.

2.      The use of the words disease and disorder

There is a difference in the meaning of these two words, so both are needed. The DRG comb  names with disease and disorder (n=3) will be changed to disease or disorder. Otherwise, the use of these words will remain as it is.

3.      The use of words procedure, operation and intervention

The meaning of these words differs, so they all are needed. No changes in the use of these.

4.      The use of singular or plural forms of words

In DRG comb names with the word other (procedures), a plural form of the word procedure will be used. Otherwise, the names will remain as they are.

5.      The use of the sign &

All the & -signs will be replaced with the word and

6.      The use of the term of the vs. (just) of

As it’s difficult to define when the phrase ‘of the’ should be used, these names will be left as they are. We might get back to this question as new DRGs are created.

7.      The use of abbreviations

It was decided that all the abbreviations in DRG combined names will be replaced by complete words. At this stage the change concerns the following abbreviations / words:

GI (n = 7) -> gastrointestinal

D&C (n = 15) -> dilation and curettage

Uri (n = 5) -> upper respiratory infection

8.      The correct spelling of the words

• 'haemorrhage’ vs. 'hemorrhage’: we use the word haemorrhage as this kind of spelling is used in ICD-10.
• 'leukaemia’ vs. 'leukemia’: we use the word leaukaemia as this kind of spelling is used in ICD-10.
• ‘lymphoma’ vs. ‘lymfoma’: we use the word lymphoma as (again) used in ICD-10
• ‘allogeneic’ vs. ‘allogenic’: we use the word allogeneic. Both words are correct, but allogeneic is used more widely   in academic literature. This change also concerns the name of 11 proc plus codes.

This ticket will stay open for further comments or suggestions on the subject.

We have continued reviewing the texts in COMB version and made the following changes in NDMS and MBC (the changes concern the following tables:  Grouping Property Name, Procedure Property Name, DRG Name Combined and Proc Plus Codes):

1.      Replaced the remaining &-signs with the word and (NDMS)

2.      Replaced remaining D&C abbreviations with the words dilation and curettage (NDMS)

3.      Replaced the shortened words proc, dg, diagn with proper words procedure, diagnosis, diagnostic (NDMS)

4.      Harmonized the use of the word intrathoracic (previously used both forms intrathoracic and intrathoracal) (MBC and NDMS)

For DRG Names Comb, only the long names were changed at this stage. These changes do not affect actual grouping in any version.

Details of the changes can be seen in the attached Excel file NordDRG_Comb_text changes. xlsx

2025-03-11 Expert group

This case was discussed in the meeting and the following decisions were made:

1.      The use of ’Aftercare’ in DRG names

a.      The COMB name of the DRGs 466N and 466C (swe) will be changed to Aftercare of other conditions, w/o CC and Aftercare of other conditions, w CC, so they will be in line with the DRG 466X Aftercare of other conditions used by other countries.

b.      Countries will conduct an analysis of the content of the national DRGs concerning aftercare. Does the content refer to Aftercare of (more focused on medical follow-up and direct treatment of the disease itself) or Aftercare for (Broader, including supportive care, rehabilitation, and recovery beyond just the disease treatment). We will get back to this in later meetings.

2.      The following forms of terms will be used in the future. The other forms have been corrected:

a.      musculoskeletal (vs. musculosceletal) -> procpr, compl, drg and drg comb names

b.      peripheral (vs. periferal) -> procpr and drg names

c.      phlebitis (vs. flebitis) -> compl names

d.      arrhythmia (vs. arrythmia) -> compl and drg names

e.      orthopaedic (vs. orthopedic) -> procpr, drg and drg comb names.

3.      In a larger scale:

a.      We will prefer British (vs. American) English (e.g. sterilization vs. sterilisation)

b.      We will prefer the forms of terminology used in ICD-10 (-11) classification.

The presentation showed in the meeting is attached to this ticket. The case remains open for further suggestions.

As continuing our work to harmonize the terminology in comb version, we now have started revising the terms in MBC.

In the attached Excel file (Proc plus_changes in terminology_20250825.xlsx) is the list of the updates made in proc plus table, concerning mainly corrections in spelling.

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In addition, we have noticed inconsistency in the use of the following terms:

• surgery of (148 codes) vs. surgery for (1 code)
• operation of (39) vs. operation for (297) 
• procedure of (5) vs. procedure for (13)
• intervention of (1) vs. intervention for (15).

For these no changes has been made so far. We will continue discussing the subject in our future meetings.

2025-09-02 Expert group

This case was discussed during EG meeting. It is important to improve the quality of def.tables and correct the terminology.

It was decided to keep this case further active and provide updates once any corrections are made in NDMS/MBC.

Some alterations have been made to the DRG names table in the Combined version.

Earlier it has been agreed, that in Combined version texts we will primarily prefer words used in British English, except when another term has been used in ICD10. In these cases, we’ll choose the term used in ICD10 (i.g. sterilization, catheterization).

According to these rules the following terms have been changed in the DRG names Combined table:

tumor -> tumour

catheterisation -> catheterization

anestesia -> anesthesia                                                                                               

dysequilibrium -> disequilibrium

apnoe -> apnoea.

Also, some minor corrections of spelling have been made. All the changes can be seen in the Excel file #928_changes_20251117.xlsx attached.

These changes will be published in Combined2026PR1 -version.

This case will remain open for further changes.

Some changes were done to the texts in COMB version according to the comment by Vegard and the rules agreed earlier. See the attached file (Text changes in COMB version_20260413.xlsx) for details.