Newsletter [N° 1] - January, 2006

We have been very excited about the 100 % participation of all active Belgian Centers, the project will continue.

From June 2005, Mrs. Carine Vandeweyer has the function of Data Manager. According to her experience in datamanagement, her function is extended to advise and design the selected data.

1) The Newsletter as a Multi-Directional Communication Tool

Let the Newsletter become a multi-directional tool : not only from the central data managing to the centers but also from each center to all others. Please think about it.

2) Data of 2003

We received the dataset of 29 cardiac centers.
A report of 2003 will follow soon. Every center will receive his personal report.

3) Data of 2004

We received the complete data for 2004 from 14 centers and the partial data for 2004 from 15 centers.
All active centers are submitting data.
Error-reports are sent to each center recently. Please inform us in a short time with the necessary changes.

4) 2005 : Collection of Data

You will find the status of data received from your center up to now.
We hope to receive your data before the end of February 2006.

Don't forget :

• REVISION FOR BLEEDING (cpt-code 35820)
  • not accepted :
  • 35820 + general procedure (code a bleeding as an additional record !)
  • 35820 + 9952
  • 35820 + 35820 (code each bleeding as an additional record !)
  • 35820 + 21750
  • 35820 + 9976
  • 35820 + 9977
  • accepted :
    • 35820 + 33967
    • 35820 + 33970
    • 35820 + 33971
• REFIXATION STERNUM (cpt-code 21750)
• CODES FOR REOPERATIONS (cpt-code 33530, 9976, 9977)
  • redo code 33530 is not possible as code alone

What's new ?

• INFARCT/INFARCTDAT
  
  We have added a field named "INFARCT".
  
  Field INFARCT : fill in with Y or N
  Field INFARCTDAT : fill in with a date (dd-mmm-yyyy)
  
  Please code date of recent (preop) infarct (less than 90 days before operation). Not postoperative infarct !
  A lot of centers makes the mistake by given a postoperative infarct date.
  
  
• INCISION
  
  There is a new additional code for the field INCISION :
  ENDO = Endoscopic thoracotomy (no mini thoracotomy)

5) CPT Codes - not accepted

Not accepted : Cpt-code 49905
Accepted : Cpt-code 49904 (omentoplasty extra-abdominal)

Not accepted : Cpt-code 93536
Accepted : 33967 (percutaneous approach IABP)

Not accepted : Cpt-code 33247
Accepted : 33216 (insertion of a transvenous electrode; single chamber (one electrode) permanent pacemaker of single chamer pacing cardioverter-defibrillator)

6) What's on the web

Please visit our website http://www.bacts.org and go in the left menu to "BACTS DATABASE".

Which data do we select ? See datafiles format 2005

How ? See Data Collection [xls file] - CPT codes registry and full dataset.
To help the surgeon coding his operation, please use this example of how to code a cardiac procedure.

When ? This file shoud be transmitted in the month following the end of each term of three months, starting from January 1, 2006.
This file can be send by e-mail as an attachment to carine.vandeweyer@bacts.org .
Please identify yourself and your center in the e-mail.

Help ? CPT codes / FAQ
These examples should help you towards a better understanding of the coding system.

7) CPT Codebook

We are currently using the 2005 Codebook (CPT 2005), edited by the American Medical Association.
A new version (CPT® 2006 ) is available from December 2005.

Waiting for your data and for your reactions about this letter, Mrs. Vandeweyer would be happy to meet you and remains available for every information.

We thank you, for you continuing cooperation and the Committee wishes you a happy 2006.

8) The Future

1. Is your center already participating the EACTS Congenital Database ? Inform us by filling in this form.
2. The European Thoracic Database will start very soon. Is your center performing Thoracic Surgery ? Inform us by filling in this form.
3. Springtime, we plan to organize a meeting with all the cardiac centers to present the global report of 2003 (and 2004, if we have your error-reports back in time).

Yours Sincerely,