The oxford surgical data system: a tool for self-audit

The Oxford Surgical Data System (OSDS) allows accurate and comprehensive storage and retrieval of data, including personal information, operation details, complications and diagnoses of both inpatients and outpatients. The system is based on the MEDUS/A medical data management package and its database is practice based, the operator being the medical secretary. To avoid long linear lists of diagnoses (based on ICD-9) or operations (based on OPSC) a successful alphabetical code has been developed. The code can be readily extended to accommodate research requirements, or data collection in other medical specialities.