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Unified Medical Language System (UMLS)

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ICPC (International Classification of Primary Care) - Synopsis

Search ICPC in the UMLS Metathesaurus
(requires a free UMLS license)

Web site
http://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/wicc/icpcstory.html

Authority
The International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) is produced by the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associates of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA) now known as the World Organization of Family Doctors (Wonca). ICPC is maintained and updated by the International Classification Committee of Wonca (WICC).

Purpose
ICPC is an epidemiological tool used to classify data about three elements of the health care encounter: reasons for encounter (RFE), diagnosis or problem, and process of care.

Description
ICPC is based on a biaxial structure with 17 chapters on an axis and seven components on the other. The 17 chapters are based on the systems of the human body with two additional chapters, one for psychological problems and one for social problems. The seven components are:

  1. symptoms, complaints
  2. diagnostic screening, prevention
  3. treatment, procedures, medication
  4. test results
  5. administrative
  6. other
  7. diagnoses, diseases

Metathesaurus Scope
The Metathesaurus also includes the following ICPC translations:

  1. Basque
  2. Danish
  3. Dutch
  4. Finnish
  5. French
  6. German
  7. Hebrew
  8. Hungarian
  9. Italian
  10. Norwegian
  11. Portuguese
  12. Spanish
  13. Swedish

Audience
ICPC is used by general/family practice and primary care physicians.

Update Frequency
ICPC was last updated in 1993.

ICPC was revised and released in a printed book as ICPC-2 in 1998 and then electronically as ICPC-2-E in 2000. For more information about ICPC-2-E, see the ICPC2EENG source synopsis.

Metathesaurus Update Frequency
ICPC was last updated in the Metathesaurus in 1999.

Sites Consulted

  1. The International Classification of Primary Care Story [Internet]. Singapore: World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians; [cited 2010 Jan 12]. Available from: http://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/wicc/icpcstory.html