Because of the increasing number of hemorrhoids cases, doctors and specialists have built a system to distinguish one from the other to have a clearer clinical picture of each case. This classification system is called the International Statistical Classification of Diseases or ICD. These are alpha-numeric codes to categorize diseases and a vast diversity of symptoms, complaints, findings, cause of the certain disease and circumstances.
Most of the conditions are appointed in a specific category provided by a code which has a maximum of 6 characters. The code represents the outcome of the diagnoses. Batches of related diseases are included in each category.
The first ICD was published as Bertillon Classification way back in 1893. At the start of 1900, physicians, doctors and other health experts came together every ten years in order to give revisions to the classification system. During World War II, the fifth revision was released. WHO claimed it in 1946 and published the sixth revision. The entire purpose of ICD-9 is to monitor and identify the disease. It is basically a set of codes used to describe the current condition of the patient so hospitals and health organizations can easily provide the necessary medical services.
World Health Organization (WHO) modified the system and being used worldwide for mortality and morbidity statistics, compensation for Medicare and insurance and automatic support for medicine. ICD is tailored for accurate classification, processing, collecting and presenting health data.
ICD-9 or Int’l Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision was approved in 1999 for mortality and had been receiving revisions to combine with the clinical code of Int’l. Classification of Diseases, 9th Rev, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) and procedure code or ICD-9-PCS. The revisions were completed in 2003.
WHO briefly explained ICD is for “all general epidemiological, many health mgmt. purposes and clinical use. These include analysis of the general health situations of population groups and the monitoring of incidences and prevalence of diseases as well as other health issues related to other variables like the characteristics and circumstances of the affected individuals, reimbursement, resources allocation, quality and guidelines.”
Each diagnosis made by doctors according to symptoms has a specific code or a designated number. This code is understood by health organizations in U.S. and other countries. It means if a person is diagnosed with internal thrombosed hemorrhoids, he/ she will be given a code of 455.1. When he travels across the world to see a doctor for second opinion, then 455.1 is an easy way to explain the complications.
However if a patient is diagnosed with flu, fever or rashes, then ICD is not that essential. It is an illness that easily goes away but won’t influence your future health. If it is a chronic disease such as diabetes or heart disease, then ICD code is essential for medical assistance throughout your life. Although ICD-9 is universally utilized, revisions are still essential for better and more organized system for lifetime benefits of patients. However, it is no doubt ICD plays an important role in efficient medical care.
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