Standardisierung medizinischer Klassifikationen in Europa und Deutschland)

Summary

Medical documentation is fundamental for national health reports; standards of medical nomenclatures and classifications are a basic requirement for the indispensable correct encoding of items. Owing to European integration this standardization is necessary not only at national but also at international level. Up to now there are in Germany and Europe no institutions working comprehensively on this field of health care system. WHO concentrates mainly on ICD, whereas ISO, INFOTERM and CEN work essentially on technologic-industrial and general scientific fields. This is also true for the German DIN institute, while DIMDI is mainly engaged in medical literature documentation and information. Problems and possible solutions are demonstrated through the example of the AIM SESAME project and especially by classifications of medical procedures. It has been decided to translate into German and to adapt the Dutch WCC Procedure Classification, which is based on ICPM and ICD-9-CM Procedure Classification, and this is making good progress. This development could result in a Middle European standard classification on medical procedures. Beside advantages in special fields a German centre on health care classifications should be established to concentrate classification work according to the actual GMDS memorandum. The SESAME project has proposed an European institution to coordinate all national efforts in this field.