Final answer:
The ICD-10-CM is a system used for classifying diseases and is the Clinical Modification of the WHO's ICD, lacking a procedure classification, which is provided by systems like ICD-10-PCS in the U.S.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ICD-10-CM is the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification. This system, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), is widely used in clinical fields to classify diseases and provides a system for health care professionals to code and categorize health information for both morbidity and mortality statistics. The ICD-10-CM is based on the WHO's ICD but has been modified by various countries to better suit their own healthcare systems. As mentioned, the ICD-10-CM does not include a procedure classification. This aspect is instead covered by other coding systems, such as the ICD-10-PCS (Procedure Coding System) used in the United States.
Medical coding aids in the standardization of disease and procedure data which is crucial for insurance billing, epidemiology studies, and healthcare policy decisions. The terminology used in healthcare to describe and categorize diseases includes terms like acute (sudden onset and short duration), chronic (long duration and slow progression), malignant, and more. These terms allow professionals to communicate with precision about various health conditions.