This is a commercial system which provides an example of a tracking mechanism for employees in terms of their test results, by means of codes that indicate the extent to which employee should be evaluated in the future.
In order to enable tracking, outcomes of the evaluations are categorised according to groups, coded as follows:
| Synergee Coding System | |
|---|---|
| A | Findings within normal limits. |
| B (1-4) | Abnormal findings - Occupational: (1-4 = Borderline - Mild - Moderate - Severe) |
| BP (1-4) | Abnormal findings - Occupational, but pre-existing (from prior workplace): (1-4 = as above) |
| C (1-4) | Abnormal findings - Non-occupational: (1-4 = Borderline - Mild - Moderate - Severe) |
| D (1-4) | Unclear reasons for findings: (1-4 = Borderline - Mild - Moderate - Severe) |
| E | Employee is exempt from the test or examination. |
| X | This test was missed or skipped for some reason, and is outstanding. |
Further modifying codes ("modifiers") are used to indicate two other vital pieces of information:
| Progress Modifier | Compensation Indicators | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| +/-3 | Change by more than a full category | C | Indicates an occupational disease that meets the requirements for a submission to the Compensation Commissioner |
| +/-2 | Change by a category | NC | Indicates a disease (could also be occupational) that does not meet the requirements for a submission to the Compensation Commissioner |
| +/-1 | Change, but still within the same severity category. | ||
| P0 | No test-to-test change | ||
| PX | No prior test available (a "Baseline") | ||
| - | Indicates a test to-test deterioration | ||
| + | Indicates a test to-test - improvement | ||
This coding system provides a useful tool by means of which to examine risk profile of the group under evaluation, and is also a ready reference by which to designate appropriate actions by categories. Given some flexibility for isolated individual cases, a generic follow-up plan for these categories is as follows:
| Group | Suggested actions |
|---|---|
| CAT A,B1, C1 & D1 | Inform employee. Take special note of borderline cases. Routine follow-up. |
| CAT B2 (occupational) | Investigate & record as an incident. Inform employee, management and Department of Labour, as required by Occupational Health and Safety Act. Careful follow-up (6-monthly if necessary). Consider issuing more effective risk controls (See hierarchy of controls). |
| CAT B3 (occupational) | As for CATB2. Requires direct attention of the risk control team, with a view to immediate exposure reduction. |
| CAT B4 (occupational) | As for CATB3. This may require submission to the Compensation Commissioner for possible award. Provide maximum exposure protection - seriously consider a move to a non-exposed job. |
| CAT C2, C3 & 4 | Inform employee only (not management). Intensity of follow-up depends upon the severity of the disorder and on-going exposure (6-monthly if necessary). Refer for ingoing medical management and follow-up as necessary (usually at own cost). |
| CAT D | The "D" code is the flag that indicates "Case Management in progress". Make every attempt to define the underlying cause and allocate a code from those above. In borderline or mild cases, careful follow-up may suffice. |
In this way, there is consistency in the way in which different medical screening programmes flow and are reported. Interpretations are more rapid and key performance indicators become more transparent.
The procedure, the documentation and the underlying IT data gathering process all knit tightly together to form an integrated system, minimising information loss and optimising efficiency.