What does ICD stand for, and what is its purpose?

ICD stands for International Classification of Diseases. Its primary purpose is to provide a standardized system for coding and classifying diseases, conditions, and procedures. This coding system allows healthcare providers to accurately document diagnoses and treatments, which is crucial for claims processing and billing.

By using the ICD codes, healthcare professionals can communicate clearly about the health conditions of patients, ensuring that there is an organized way to understand the variety of diseases and health issues encountered in healthcare settings. This also facilitates reporting and analysis for public health research and epidemiology by creating consistency across different healthcare providers and payers.