• Nordic DRG-system
  • maintenance
  • ongoing projects
  • timetable
  • certification
    • acceptance
    • evaluation
    • certificate
  • expert network
  • groupers

NordDRG certification process

Developers interested in producing and marketing authorized NordDRG grouper software must apply for a "Certificate of Acceptance". Without this certificate the software may not be marketed as NordDRG compliant.

The specifications of the NordDRG definition tables and the NordDRG Manual may be used to produce DRG grouper software. These specifications can be used to produce grouper software using different computing languages, different architectures and for different computer platforms. Preliminary versions of the NordDRG definition tables may be used, if available. However, only the final versions of the definition tables are committed to issue. As a rule, the tables from previous years may be used for technical testing of new grouper software.

The result of DRG grouping produced by that software must be identical with the results from the Nordic reference grouper in order for a product to be considered as NordDRG compliant. After acceptance, a certificate will be issued with an announcement on the NordDRG website.

In summary, the certification process requires that the developer checks their grouper software using predefined test data to create a report of the grouping results. These are to be compared with the correct DRG grouping. The developer returns the test material together with a signed report, stating the correctness and validity of the grouping results. In addition, the developer should be prepared to send working versions of the batch and/or interactive grouper software for additional testing to NordDRG administration.

Other terms

It is expected that each developer will have some extra functions, unique features in their products aimed at making their product attractive in the marketplace. These features are outside the scope of the NordDRG testing.
Certified products will produce correct results but may differ in other aspects (e.g. user interface, computer hardware requirements and processing time). Processing time may vary depending on the interface written to the grouper and the type of processing performed. This is also outside the testing. However, defects in the interface can cause wrong grouping results if it allows incorrect information to be fed into the grouping engine. If necessary, the grouper products are tested based on the existing hardware and operating systems available within CA or external sites.

Third party information

In order to provide authorization for developers to distribute NordDRG grouper software there are a number of terms in relation to the third party (end users):

• The certified version of the software should be identified to the end user using standard terms. For example, the version of the grouper software should be identified in advertising, packaging and within products relating to the grouper software as "NordDRG", version number (usually year) and name of national version as explained in the NordDRG Manual
• The NordDRG owners are not liable for, and make no warranty regarding the functionality of the version of the software to any third party. The third party is prohibited from exploiting the NordDRG system