  |
|
||
 |
|||
|
|
||
|
|
|||
The ICPC-2 PLUS structure follows the ICPC-2 structure. See the ICPC-2 section to find out more.
There are 3 main constructs within the structure of ICPC-2 PLUS:
1. The term: This is the written description of the concept you are trying to capture. Examples of what domains the terms may include are: a disease label (e.g. hypertension), a symptom (e.g. cough) or a procedure (e.g. dressing).
2. The code: This is a six digit alpha-numeric code linked to the term. For information about the structure of the code please see the diagram below.
3. Keywords: These are used as the links to access the term. Keywords may be terms, synonyms, acronyms etc and are linked to ICPC-2 PLUS terms to facilitate data entry. Multiple keywords can be linked to a single term.
ICPC-2 PLUS codes are 6 digits long, and can be broken down into two parts, the ICPC-2 code, and the ‘plus’ code.
For example, A86001 ...
A86 001 The first 3 characters are the ICPC-2 code. The alphabetic part (A) indicates the chapter of the ICPC-2 code, while the numeric part (86) identifies the location of the code within the chapter.
The last three digits comprise the ‘plus’ part of the ICPC-2 PLUS code. As each plus code is created, it is assigned the next available 3 digit number in the rubric. As such, there is no meaning to the order of these codes.
ICPC-2 PLUS has been produced for utilisation at the point of patient contact. The system has therefore been designed to provide user friendly, timely access to terms. The key words facilitate access to a pick list of related terms that is flexible (i.e. the terminology allows for multiple term approaches) and accurate (i.e. only appropriate terms are displayed in the pick list).
ICPC-2 PLUS system functionality utilises the application of keywords (words, word fragments or abbreviations) that describe the concept you are interested in. In suitable software, entry of a keyword automatically produces a pick list of related terms. Browsing of this term pick list is then achieved through arrow buttons or mouse control. When you select the term you want the associated ICPC-2 PLUS code is automatically transferred into the records’ data sheet or ‘back end’. The term is saved to the ‘front end’ record. So, to all intents and purposes, the end user is unaware of the "coding" process as it is automatically performed by the computer.
To complete the automated ‘data in - data out’ cycle of the terminology, a number of standardised data extraction code sets have been developed.
Meaningful data extraction is accomplished through the use of ‘Data output Groupers’. A data output grouper is a classification of like or similar concepts that hold some clinical significance for the practitioner.
Data output groupers allow data to be extracted at a number of different hierarchical or cross-sectional levels within the ICPC-2 classification and/or the ICPC-2 PLUS terminology such as:-* ICPC-2 Chapter groupers e.g. all respiratory problems;
* ICPC-2 Component groupers e.g. all symptoms and complaints for a particular chapter(s);
* Broad medical constructs e.g. STIs;
* Patient groups e.g. all patients treated for a fracture.
The data output functionality of ICPC-2 PLUS allows clinicians to:-* Easily enter and classify clinical information in computerised medical terms;
* Analyse their data at ICPC-2 rubric level (e.g. all patients with IDDM);
* Analyse their data in more complex terms with ICPC-2 and ICPC-2 PLUS (e.g. all patients with IDDM - with no HbA1c for 12 months);
* Analyse in grouped rubrics (e.g. all patients managed for any type of neoplasms) by utilising standardised grouping lists provided with ICPC-2 PLUS;
* Analyse in the ICPC-2 chapter-component mode to identify broader medical constructs or patient groups, e.g. - all patients treated for respiratory symptoms over the past month, all patients managed for a neoplasm of the skin in the past year.
This application is available to all licensed clients at no additional charge.
