CODING ACCURACY AND INDEXING EFFECTIVENESS IN NIGERIAN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY: A STUDY OF THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YENAGOA

Abstract: This article reports a study that set out to examine how accurately health records are coded at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and how well the indexing of those records supports the timely retrieval of patient information. Health information management remains one of the quieter engines of hospital performance, yet many hospitals across Nigeria continue to wrestle with coding mistakes and slow, unreliable filing systems. A cross sectional survey was carried out among seventyfive Health Information Management staff, using a structured questionnaire built around the everyday realities of coding and indexing work. The results paint a picture that is encouraging in parts and sobering in others. Staff clearly understand the coding guidelines they are expected to follow and appreciate why proper indexing matters, yet coding errors have not gone away. Thin training budgets, weak supervision, and little room for continuing professional development all play a part. On a brighter note, the study found that when records are properly indexed, retrieval times fall and the wider hospital workflow benefits. What indexing has not managed to solve, at least not yet, is the recurring problem of duplicated or missing records. Taken together, the findings suggest that coding and indexing already contribute something real and measurable to healthcare delivery at the centre, but their full potential will not be reached until training, supervision, and the technological backbone behind these processes are strengthened. The article closes with a set of practical recommendations, among them regular refresher training, a proper supervisory structure, and renewed investment in modern health information systems. Keywords: Coding Accuracy, Indexing Effectiveness, Health Information Management, Record Retrieval, Healthcare Efficiency. Title: CODING ACCURACY AND INDEXING EFFECTIVENESS IN NIGERIAN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY: A STUDY OF THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YENAGOA Author: Jack-Gbarabe Biobelemoye, Grace Esohe Ogbeifun International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing ISSN 2394-7330 Vol. 13, Issue 2, May 2026 - August 2026 Page No: 113-129 Novelty Journals Website: www.noveltyjournals.com Published Date: 19-August-2026 DOI: doi.org Paper Download Link (Source) noveltyjournals.com