VPRS 16826 Copies of Classification of Diseases Book, Index to Classification of Diseases, and Index to Volume Medical Records

Full description

The records in this series were key components of the recordkeeping system used to manage Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) patient medical records during the period 1921 to 1937. From 1921 to 1937 RCH patient medical records were arranged in numerical order in volumes in two year blocks according to disease code. A disease code was a letter-number combination used to denote a disease. The disease code assigned to a patient (the patient's diagnosis) was the key for locating a patient's record.

The codes were defined in disease classification books. This series includes photocopies of a disease classification book and an alphabetical index to disease codes used by the RCH medical records section to locate patient records (the originals remain in the custody of the RCH). The series also contains a photocopy of the index that recorded the volume number in which patient medical records relating to each disease code were located.

The classification book outlines the coding schema used to code diseases. It is arranged in sections according to disease type. Letters of the alphabet are used to denote each type and a sequential number used to denote specific diseases. For example, L denotes diseases of the respiratory system. L424 denotes Sinusitis. The inscribed title of the book is Records Office Children's Hospital Classification of Diseases 1938 - 1952. The disease classification index is arranged alphabetically by disease name and records the alphanumeric code assigned to a disease. Its inscribed title is Records Office Index to Classification of Disease 1921 - 1952. Together, the book and the index cover the period 1921 to 1937.

The index to the volumes containing the patient medical records (inscribed Index to Volume Medical Records) is arranged in two-year blocks starting at 1921/22 and ending in 1936/37. Within each interval it is arranged in alpha-numeric order by disease code. Knowing the disease code assigned to a patient and their (approximate) year of admission, the index could be used to identify the volume in which the patient's medical record was located.

The original records are still used by RCH today in response to external enquiries.

Note that other key records used to manage RCH patient medical records for the period 1921 to 1937 (and outside this period too) remain in the custody of the RCH. The patient records are also in the custody of the RCH.

Prior to transfer to Public Record Office Victoria, the records in this series were maintained as part of the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Archives. They were part of RCH accession number 2009/011.