WHO Collaborating Centre for the WHO Family of International Classifications

The WHO Collaborating Centre for the WHO Family of International Classifications (formerly the WHO Collaborating Centre for the Classification of Diseases for North America) was established in 1976 to represent the United States and Canada in international activities related to study and revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Health Problems (ICD). In 1993, the Collaborating Centre also assumed responsibility for work in North America on the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps, now the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). In 2003, the Collaborating Center received new terms of reference as a WHO Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications. The WHO Collaborating Centre for WHO-FIC is located at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS), and works in close collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and Statistics Canadaexternal icon. Designation is in cooperation with the Pan American Health Organizationexternal icon, every four years.

The WHO Collaborating Centre for WHO-FIC maintains liaison with WHO on United States and Canadian government use, implementation and maintenance of the Family of International Classifications. The Collaborating Centre coordinates activities in three major aspects of classification: mortality, morbidity, and disability and works with the other WHO collaborating centers and related offices to promote and coordinate ICD and ICF applications. In the United States, NCHS has responsibility for ICD use in mortality statistics in collaboration with the States. Development and use of the clinical modification of ICD and related classifications for morbidity applications are a shared responsibility with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), with NCHS having the lead for diagnoses and CMS having the lead for procedures. NCHS also has responsibility for national disability statistics in the United States. In Canada, Statistics Canada has responsibility for ICD use in mortality statistics in collaboration with the Provinces and Territories. CIHI has responsibility for development and use of the clinical modification of ICD and procedure classification for morbidity applications. National disability statistics are the responsibility of Statistics Canada and CIHI.

Contact

Donna Pickett
Head, WHO Collaborating Centre for the WHO Family of International Classifications
National Center for Health Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3311 Toledo Road
Hyattsville, Maryland, USA 20782
Phone: 301-458-4434
Fax: 301-458-4045
E-mail: dfp4@cdc.gov