Introduction to ICD 10

ICD stands for International Classification of Diseases & the new title of ICD 10 is the Internal statistical classification of Diseases and Related Health problems but the convenient abbreviation ICD has been retained . A classification of diseases may be defined as a system of categories to which morbid entities are assigned according to established criteria . ICD is developed by WHO & it is being revised periodically . 138 countries have implemented the ICD 10 code for mortality and 99 countries have also implemented ICD 10 code set for morbidity Individual country, on permission from WHO, may make modification to ICD-10 to meet individual country specific needs

History of ICD 10
The 10th Revision of ICD Started in September 1983 when a preparatory meeting was convened in Geneva . The program of the work was guided by regular meetings of Heads of WHO Collaborating Centres for Classification of Diseases . Policy guidance was Provided by a number of special meetings including those of the Expert Committee on the International Classification of Diseases , held in 1984 and 1987 . Technical contributions provided by many specialist groups and individual experts. ICD 10 came into effect on 1st January 1993. This system of statistical classification has begun from eighteenth century .

General characteristics of ICD 10

ICD 10 uses an alphanumeric coding scheme of one letter followed by three numbers at the four-character level . In ICD 10 of 26 letters 25 had been used , the letter U being left vacant for future additions and changes . ICD 10 has three volumes and 22 chapters in Tabular list . There are more than 14,400 different codes in ICD 10 using optional sub-classifications, the codes can be expanded to over 16,00 codes .

Contents of the three Volumes of ICD 10

Volume 1 (Tabular List) : This contains the report of the International Conference for the 10th revision, the classification itself at the three- and four-character levels, the classification of the morphology of neoplasm, special tabulation lists for mortality and morbidity ,definition, and the nomenclature regulations . Volume 2 : It is the instruction Manual on how to use the ICD that means it provides a guidance on the use of Volume 1 . It also provides guidelines for the presentation and interpretation of data . Volume 3 is the alphabetical index . This presents an alphabetical list of the diseases and conditions which have codes in the Tabular List .

Objectives of Training
Understand ICD 10 List the importance of ICD 10 Use the guidebook on ICD 10 Use ICD 10 in morbidity and mortality recording and reporting Write the appropriate code for the diagnosis of disease and cause of death according to ICD 10 Write International Form of Medical Certification of Death according to ICD 10 List the most common diagnosis and codes, which they regularly deal with Acquire skills for clinical reasoning.