The International Classification of Health Problems for Primary Care.

Health problems of patients seen in the ambulatory setting are different from those encountered in the hospital, and the particular classification of diseases used should reflect these differences. The International Classification of Health Problems in Primary Care (ICHPPC) was designed for use by primary care physicians. It was tested in multiple sites in several countries for one year and has been approved by the World Organization of National Colleges and Academies of Family Medicine-General Practice and other groups concerned with the classification of diseases. The ICHPPC permits classification of the most important part of an ambulatory data see. Data generated by using this classification facilitate outreach to a practice population, construction of diagnostic profiles of health care providers, design of curriculum and health services research.