How can classifications be used in structured digital documentation within health and social care so that the information can be reused and compared at different levels? This is the subject of Ann-Helene Almborg's Associate Professorship lecture on the 11th October. 

The question above has been a red thread throughout Ann-Helene Almborg's academic and professional work. As an employee of Socialstyrelsen (the National Board of Health and Welfare), she has, for many years, been involved in development work in collaboration with activities at national, regional and local levels, but also at international level. The goal has been to increase the quality of the activities together by accurately measuring equivalent things.

A strong focus has been put on the needs-oriented approach, that is, to describe the individual's functioning, to set individual goals, to describe the individual's needs and follow the results.

"The starting point of the work has been the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)," explains Ann-Helene Almborg. "The overall goal of this classification is to provide a structure and to standardize the language to describe functioning and disabilities in relation to health."

"I have also run a long-term project where the Socialstyrelsen, together with a large number of professionals in social care, has developed the Classification of Social Care Actions and Activities (KSI). The KSI and the Classification of Healthcare Interventions (KVÅ) - the latter being for health care - can both be used to describe planned and implemented interventions. Both classification systems complement the ICF," says Ann-Helene Almborg.

Using health-related classifications directly in electronic health records within health and social care enables effective and unequivocal comparisons of groups at local, regional, national and global levels. ICF and ICD (International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems) are the World Health Organization's two reference classifications. Ann-Helene Almborg contributes also to the World Health Organization's development of the third reference classification, the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI). ICHI will complement ICF and ICD. Together these provide a basis for improving health and welfare both locally, nationally and globally.

You are welcome to come and hear more on this subject in Ann-Helene Almborg's Associate Professorship lecture 'Using classifications in practice to improve health and welfare - from local to global level" in Forum Humanum, School of Health and Welfare, on Thursday 11th October,14.00 - 15.00.