2012年9月2日 星期日

Medical Classification is Medical Coding


What is medical classification and what is medical coding? Well, both the terms refer to the process of transforming details of medical diagnostic processes and diagnosis into medical code numbers that are universal. The four basic categories of coding are diagnostic codes, procedural codes, pharmaceutical codes, and topographical codes. The diagnostic codes are used to group and identify diseases, disorders, symptoms, and medical signs, and the procedure codes are numbers or alphanumeric codes used to identify specific health interventions that are taken by medical professionals. While the pharmaceutical codes are about medications the topographical codes indicate the concerned body part.

From where are all these details about the patient's disease and his medical history taken? Some of the sources include,


Doctor's notes

Biochemistry Lab reports

Radiology reports

What is the use of these medical codes? They are used to track diseases and quite useful for health insurance companies, government hospitals, worker's compensation carriers etc. These medical coding/ classification system applications are mainly used for reimbursements of the medical bills from insurance companies. It is also used for statistical analysis, in epidemic surveillance and for knowledge based decision support.

Here are the different types of medical classifications;


Reference Classifications

International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health

International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health

International Classification of Health Interventions

International Classification of Primary Care

International Classification of External Causes of Injury

Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System

Technical aids for persons with disabilities: Classification and terminology

International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition

ICD-10 for Mental and Behavioral Disorder

Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Dentistry and Stomatology

Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Neurology

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth

Procedure Coding System

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine

TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours

Unified Medical Language System

Mendelian inheritance in Man

Current Procedural Terminology

Health Care Procedure Coding System

North American Nursing Diagnosis Associates

Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes

International Classification of Headache Disorders 2nd Edition




The author of this article is Ricci Mathew of Outsource Strategies International (OSI), a US based company that offers services in Medical Coding, Medical Billing, Medical Transcription for clients across the US.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

沒有留言:

張貼留言