List of MeSH codes (N04)

List of MeSH codes (N04) refers to a comprehensive categorization within the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) system, specifically focusing on the area of health services. MeSH is a hierarchical controlled vocabulary used for indexing, cataloging, and searching for biomedical and health-related information. The N04 category encompasses terms related to the organization, administration, and provision of health services. This article provides an overview of the subcategories and specific codes under the N04 classification.

Overview

The N04 category of MeSH codes is dedicated to topics related to health services. This includes various aspects of health care delivery, health care economics and policy, health facilities, health manpower, health services for specific groups of people, and health services misuse. Each subcategory within N04 is assigned specific MeSH codes, which are used to index and search for literature in databases such as PubMed.

Subcategories and Codes

Below are the main subcategories within the N04 category, along with a brief description of each:

N04.452: Health Facilities

This subcategory includes codes related to institutions that provide health care services. Examples include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and pharmacies.

N04.590: Health Maintenance Organizations

Codes under this subcategory relate to organizations that provide or arrange for comprehensive health care services on a prepaid basis, which may include inpatient, outpatient, and preventive care.

N04.452.442: Health Services Administration

This includes topics related to the management and organization of health services, including health planning, health management, and policy-making.

N04.590.233: Health Promotion

Codes in this subcategory focus on the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. This can include educational, organizational, economic, and environmental supports for healthy living.

N04.761: Quality of Health Care

This subcategory addresses issues related to the quality, access, and evaluation of health care services, including patient safety, health care quality assurance, and patient satisfaction.

N04.590.374: Managed Care Programs

Managed care programs are systems of health care that integrate the financing and delivery of appropriate health care using a comprehensive set of services. Codes in this subcategory relate to various forms of managed care, such as Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and Point-of-Service (POS) plans.

N04.590.233.624: Preventive Health Services

This includes services intended to prevent illnesses or detect them at an early stage. Examples are immunization programs, screening programs, and prophylactic measures.

Conclusion

The N04 category of MeSH codes plays a crucial role in organizing and accessing literature related to health services. By providing a structured vocabulary, MeSH facilitates the efficient retrieval of information on a wide range of topics within the field of health services. This categorization aids researchers, policymakers, health care providers, and students in finding relevant information to support their work, studies, and decision-making processes.