[Practical use of DPC information for occupational health consultation].

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) is a national administrative case-mix classification system for acute inpatient care which was launched in Japan in 2003. This system was designed to increase the standardization and transparency of medical information. The system has collected medical information in a unified format nationwide from acute hospitals. Significant parts of the data has been published by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, including average length of hospital stay and number of patients by disease and hospital. This information is valuable for medical consultation in occupational health settings. OBJECTIVES: This article provides an overview of the DPC system and how to utilize the data from the perspective of occupational health practitioners.