Originally Posted By: marduk
If you think there is confusion with ICD-9 (17,000 codes), just wait when ICD-10 (155,000 codes) becomes the rule in the US (2013, national variants already in use in Australia, Canada, Germany, and Sweden)


OK, here's the thing I've run into. Inconsistent coding schemas. 155,000 codes - if EVERYONE uses them is better than any number of slightly inconsistent coding schemas used in different places. Anyone who works in data translation knows that errors in field mappings can lead to ever-larger headaches down the line.

Kind of reminds me of the old urban legend that the first World Standards Day was held on three different days worldwide (it wasn't but it did take them from 1946 to 1970 to settle on a date).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Standards_Day