International Classification of Health Interventions

ICHI example

International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI)

The International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) is a system developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the classification of health interventions. It is designed to provide a common language for reporting and analyzing health interventions across different countries and health systems. The ICHI aims to improve the comparability of health data and support the development of health policies and programs.

Overview

The ICHI is part of the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC), which also includes the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The ICHI provides a standardized framework for coding a wide range of health interventions, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive procedures.

Structure

The ICHI is organized into three main axes:

• Target - The entity on which the intervention is acting (e.g., body part, organ system).
• Action - The activity being performed (e.g., excision, repair, imaging).
• Means - The method or technique used to carry out the intervention (e.g., surgical, pharmacological, physical).

Each intervention is assigned a unique code that combines elements from these three axes, allowing for detailed and specific classification.

Development and Implementation

The development of the ICHI involved extensive international collaboration and consultation with experts in various fields of health care. The classification system is regularly updated to reflect advances in medical knowledge and technology. The ICHI is intended to be used by health care providers, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to improve the quality and consistency of health data.

Applications

The ICHI has a wide range of applications, including:

• Health services research
• Health policy development
• Clinical documentation
• Health information management
• Public health surveillance
• Health care quality assessment

Related Classifications

The ICHI is closely related to other WHO classifications, including:

• International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
• International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
• International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC)

See Also

• World Health Organization
• Health intervention
• Medical classification
• Health informatics

Related Pages

• International Classification of Diseases
• International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
• World Health Organization
• Health intervention
• Medical classification