ICDkodering

ICDkodering is the process of assigning standardized codes from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) to health conditions, diseases, injuries, and causes of death. The codes are used to record diagnoses in medical records, support billing and reimbursement, track health statistics, and enable research and public health surveillance.

The WHO maintains ICD. The current widely used versions are ICD-10 and ICD-11. ICD-10 introduced more detailed coding compared to ICD-9; ICD-11, released in 2018, incorporates digital features and more precise terminology. Countries adopt versions according to their health systems and regulatory timelines.

In practice, clinicians describe a patient encounter; trained coding professionals or clinicians assign one or more ICD codes based on documented diagnoses and coding guidelines. The coding must follow national or local rules, such as exclusions, mandatory codes, and combination codes.

In Sweden, for example, ICD-10-SE is the national modification used for diagnoses, aligned with ICD-10 but with country-specific extensions. ICD-11 is planned to replace ICD-10-SE in the future. Data from ICD coding feeds national health statistics, quality measurement, and financing.

Benefits and challenges: standardized coding enables comparability across providers and regions, but requires accurate documentation and ongoing coder training. Electronic health records and coding software assist, but errors can affect statistics and reimbursement.