ICD-10-AM

International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM)

ICD-10-AM refers to the Australian modification of the WHO ICD-10 base classification system. Its proper name is the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification. This version of ICD has been modified to serve particular Australian needs and to support the national collection of data relevant to our population's health.

It permits and supports the systematic recording, analysis, interpretation and comparison of morbidity data. ICD-10-AM is used to translate diseases of diseases and other health problems from words into an alphanumeric code, which permits easy storage, retrieval and analysis of the data.

ICD-10-AM is structured hierarchically within each chapter. At the highest level (within diseases) is the "base" classification at the three-character code level. This level conforms to the ICD-10 base classification from WHO, and permits exchange and comparison of morbidity data collections across borders. The majority of three-character categories are then further specified by four and five-character subcategories.

ICD-10-AM has a scope which comprehensively covers diseases and related health problems. It also captures information about issues relevant to the non-inpatient health setting. It also contains codes which classify external causes of injury and neoplasm morphology. It also has codes which classify factors influencing health status and contact with health services (health related social factors) which feature prominently in non-inpatient settings. It is the national mandated coding instrument for those purposes. ICD-10-AM content supports national minimum health data collections such as the

• Admitted patient care NMDS 2009-2010 
• Admitted patient mental health care NMDS 2009-2010 
• Community mental health care NMDS 2009-2010 

ICD-10-AM has been regularly reviewed and updated since its first release and implementation in 1998. The most current edition is the Seventh Edition, with ICD-10-AM Eight Edition planned for release on 1 July 2013.

ICD-10-AM has also enjoyed more widespread use, having been assessed, found suitable and adopted by many other countries, including:

• New Zealand
• Ireland
• Singapore
• Slovenia

Most recently, CHSD staff has helped Singapore undertake a Readiness Assessment, to plan and prepare for migration from ICD-9-CM to the adoption of ICD-10-AM.