International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI)

The International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) is a common tool for reporting and analysing health interventions for clinical and statistical purposes.

ICHI covers interventions carried out by a broad range of providers across the full scope of health systems and includes interventions on: diagnostic, medical, surgical, mental health, primary care, allied health, functioning support, rehabilitation, traditional medicine and public health.

The classification is built around three axes: Target (the entity on which the Action is carried out), Action (a deed done by an actor to a target) and Means (the processes and methods by which the Action is carried out).

Extension codes are shared with ICD and ICF in the common foundation and allow users to describe additional detail about the intervention in addition to the relevant ICHI code. A simple, logical syntax links ICHI stem codes and extension codes, interventions performed together, and packages of interventions.

The number of categories in ICHI, is determined with regard to the use cases for ICHI and the need for stability of the classification over time. The terminological core allows for a high level of detail (granularity) for all kinds of clinical documentation and data usage.

The Beta-3 version of ICHI was released in October 2020. The components relating to clinical interventions and functioning interventions have been finalized. The component on public health interventions is under final review and is finalized 2023. ICHI is freely available, under the same licensing as ICD (ICD-11).

Photo by Jane Halper - from FreeImages

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