Question

The ICD coding system was originally created for the classification of patient morbidity (sickness) and mortality (death) statistics and to provide access for medical research, education, and administration. Today, ICD codes are increasingly important and they are used for:

Answer 1

ICD codes are found on medical records and death certificates, aiding in the diagnosis, treatment, billing, insurance reimbursement, and epidemiological research of diseases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a tool used for coding and classification of diseases, primarily used within healthcare settings. Two locations where one would likely find an ICD code are on a patient’s medical records at a healthcare provider's office and on a death certificate maintained by vital-records keepers. When clinical personnel suspect a viral infection, they use the ICD code for the specific virus to order appropriate laboratory tests and prescribe treatments. This code also plays a crucial role in the backend of healthcare services such as medical billing and insurance reimbursement, ensuring the financial aspects around treatment are handled correctly. For epidemiologists, the use of ICD codes allows for the accurate calculation of disease morbidity and mortality statistics which are essential for public health monitoring and research.