Using the international classification of primary care to examine the profile of patients utilising hospital accident and emergency services

Changes in the management and financing of health care are resulting in increased demands for better information about patients who are treated on an ambulatory basis in hospitals. A pilot study was conducted with the aim of determining the profile of patients who utilise accident and emergency services at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. The International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) was used to classify both the diagnoses and treatments of patients in the study. 50% of patients fell into two diagnostic categories, 40% of patients resided outside the Eastern Sydney area, no significant difference in the morbidity profiles according to area of residence of patients was found and 25% of patients returned to the hospital within a five month period. The application of the ICPC in an accident and emergency setting is discussed.