Accurate diagnosis, documentation and coding of services rendered for every patient visit permits close analysis of a healthcare provider's utilization profile. This information, gathered by using diagnostic structuring, can provide detailed data for proper utilization prediction. This book aims to illustrate the importance of data capture and teaches physicians and practice administrators accurate techniques for doing so. It also provides the basics for combining data with in-office demographic information to give the provider a strong position for negotiating managed care contracts. The book aims to help with the successful implemetation of managed care by providing the basics of using diagnostic structuring for: compiling utilization data; creating prediction formulas; developing negotiation strategies and implementing practice strategies to use after contracting.