International Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Code

IPCCC

 

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Constitution

reviewed July 22, 04

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP FOR MAPPING AND CODING OF NOMENCLATURES FOR PAEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Preamble

The International Working Group for Mapping and Coding of Nomenclatures for Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease was established to standardize and maintain an international nomenclature system to enhance global communication and facilitate patient care, teaching and research into paediatric and congenital heart disease across  disciplines.

Article I – Name

Section A: The name of this organization shall be the International Working Group for Mapping and Coding of Nomenclatures for Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, hereafter referred to as the Nomenclature Working Group.

Section B: The officers of the Nomenclature Working Group shall make up the Executive Board of the Nomenclature Working Group, hereafter referred to as the Executive.

Article II – Purpose

Section A: The Nomenclature Working Group is a non-profit organization functioning within the framework of the International Nomenclature Committee for Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. The purposes of the Nomenclature Working Group shall be:  

1) To standardize and maintain a comprehensive and all-inclusive international nomenclature system for paediatric and congenital heart disease through the processes of de novo coding and crossmapping existing nomenclature lists including, but not restricted to the following (alphabetically listed):

  • Canadian Congenital Heart Disease Codes
  • Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) ….
  • European Paediatric Cardiac Code of the Association for European Paediatric Cardiology
  • Fyler Codes, Children’s Hospital, Boston
  • International Congenital Heart Surgery Nomenclature and Database Project of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  • International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems of the World Health Organization (ICD-9, ICD-10)

This international nomenclature system will be known as the International Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Code (IPCCC). 

2) To maintain regular communication with the International Nomenclature Committee for Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, the international paediatric and congenital cardiology and cardiac surgery communities and related disciplines, the healthcare industry, and governmental agencies, in order to disseminate information regarding the IPCCC and encourage its universal use. 

3) To provide access for these groups to communicate with the Nomenclature Working Group.  

4) To maintain, preserve and update the IPCCC, as well as provide ready access to it for the international paediatric and congenital cardiology and cardiac surgery communities, related disciplines, the healthcare industry, and governmental agencies, both electronically and in published form.

Article III – Membership 

Section A: The Nomenclature Working Group shall be composed of: 

1) Twelve members representing a broad range of nationalities and cardiac disciplines. These members shall have voting rights within the Nomenclature Working Group. 

2) In addition, the chairperson of the International Nomenclature Committee for Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease shall be an ex officio and non-voting member of the Nomenclature Working Group.           

Section B: Should a member choose to relinquish his/her membership in the Nomenclature Working Group, be expulsed, or be unable to fulfill his/her duties for health or other reasons, the Nomenclature Working Group shall seek a replacement. In doing so, the members of the Nomenclature Working Group will strive to enhance the balance of international representation and expertise within the Nomenclature Working Group. A nominee will accede to a membership position by obtaining a two-thirds majority vote from the members of the Nomenclature Working Group.

Section C: A member shall be expulsed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Nomenclature Working Group. 

Section D: The term of membership shall be until resignation or expulsion.

Article IV – Officers

Section A: The officers of the Nomenclature Working Group shall be the Chairperson, the Secretary-Treasurer, and two Executive Officers.

Section B: In the event of resignation or removal from office by a two-thirds majority vote of the Nomenclature Working Group, or an officer’s inability to perform his/her duties due to health or other reasons, the members of the Nomenclature Working Group shall nominate and elect a successor from within the membership by majority vote. 

Section C: The term of the officers shall be until resignation or expulsion.

Section D: Duties of officers:

 1) The Chairperson shall:

-       Preside at all meetings and have general supervisory power over the Nomenclature Working Group

-       Cast the deciding vote when there is a tie in the balloting

-       Be responsible for communicating the activities of the Nomenclature Working Group to the International Nomenclature Committee for Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

-       Substitute for the Secretary-Treasurer in the event of his/her absence from a meeting

-       Have signing authority for disbursements. All disbursements will require the signature of the Secretary-Treasurer or the Chairperson

 2) The Secretary-Treasurer shall:

-      Keep a careful and authentic record of the proceedings of the Nomenclature Working Group and circulate minutes of each meeting to the members of the Group upon their approval by the Executive

-       Be responsible for preparing and circulating a meeting agenda to all members upon its approval by the Executive

-       Give a financial report at the business portion of each meeting. He/she will have access and report on all money obtained in support of the Nomenclature Working Group. He/she shall be responsible for accounting for all disbursements.

-      Have signing authority for disbursements. All disbursements will require the signature of the Secretary-Treasurer or the Chairperson

-      Substitute for the Chairperson in the event of his/her absence from a meeting

3) The two Executive Officers shall be responsible for the update and maintenance of the nomenclature system as it evolves with each meeting. 

Article V – Meetings 

Section A: At least one annual meeting of the Nomenclature Working Group shall be held. The meetings shall consist of two parts, namely, a business meeting and a nomenclature review.

Section B: The timing and site of next meetings will be decided during each meeting and will depend upon the availability of the members to allow for maximum attendance.

Section C: A meeting of the Nomenclature Working Group cannot be held without the presence of the two Executive Officers. As well, either the chairman or secretary-treasurer must be present for a meeting to be held. 

Section D: A meeting cannot be held without obtaining a proper quorum. Quorum shall be defined as the attendance of two-thirds of the voting members of the Nomenclature Working Group.

Section E: Guests/observers may be invited to the nomenclature review section of the Nomenclature Working Group meetings at the discretion of the Executive.

Article VI - Address

The address of the secretariat of the Nomenclature Working Group shall be that of the Secretary-Treasurer's.

Article VII – Ratification and Amendments

Section A: This constitution shall be established by a unanimous vote of the voting membership of the Nomenclature Working Group. 

Section B: This constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds majority of the voting members, providing the amendment has been proposed in writing and circulated to all members 30 days prior to a vote. Responses to a call for a vote on an amendment must be obtained within a month.

Article VIII - Dissolution

Section A: The Nomenclature Working Group can be dissolved by a three-quarters vote of the voting members.

Dated July 22, 2004