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[Coding of diagnoses according to ICD-9]
1Kreftregisteret, Montebello, Oslo.
Insights
This paper details the International Classification of Diseases, 1975 Revision (ICD-9) structure and coding rules used in Norway. It explains how to accurately code diagnoses to minimize information loss and ensure reproducibility.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Health Information Management
Context:
- The International Classification of Diseases, 1975 Revision (ICD-9) has been the standard for Norwegian hospitals and public health since 1987.
- Accurate disease coding is crucial for health data analysis and public health administration.
Purpose:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the ICD-9 structure and characteristics.
- To examine the fundamental ICD-9 coding rules, emphasizing information preservation and completeness.
- To present methods for searching and identifying ICD-9 codes for diagnoses.
Summary:
- The paper elaborates on the ICD-9 structure and its application in Norway.
- Key coding principles are discussed, including the mandate for complete diagnosis transformation with minimal information loss.
- Rules for multiple coding are detailed, advocating for the division of complex diagnoses into smaller entities to enhance coding accuracy and reduce information loss.
- The selection of the most informative and concise code set is explained, prioritizing reproducibility.
Impact:
- Ensures accurate and consistent disease classification in Norwegian healthcare.
- Facilitates reliable health data analysis and reporting.
- Improves the efficiency and accuracy of medical coding practices.
Abstract:
The paper gives an account of the principal structure and main characteristics of the International Classification of Diseases, 1975 Revision (ICD-9), which has been used by Norwegian hospitals and the Norwegian public health administration since 1987. ICD-9 coding rules are examined, mainly the basic rule that transformation of diagnoses to codes should be complete, or should result in the smallest possible loss of information and convey no invented information. The rule of multiple coding states that, if possible, diagnoses which can be coded only with much loss of information should be divided into smaller entities. The ICD-9 code of the diagnosis comprises the codes of the set of entities which most reduces loss of information. If more than one set of entities represents the same amount of reduction in loss of information, then the set with the smallest number of entities should be chosen for reasons of reproducibility. The paper also presents the two procedures by which the corresponding ICD-9 category and code for a given diagnosis can be searched and identified.