Open Consumer Health classification scheme an overview

The Open Consumer Health classification scheme (OCH) is a open source book and media classification system developed at the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyoming.

OCH is intended for community based health sciences libraries used by the general public. As an open sources project OCH accepts suggestions for improvement which will be incorporated into the scheme as outlined below. Send your modifications to gkearney@wmcnet.org

Major subject and sub-subject heading are name with letters A-W with X,Y and Z reserved for local use. Sub-sub-sections are numbered 100-800 with 900 reserved for local use. Book identifiers are Library of Congress cutter numbers with an option for publication year. For example the following book: I don't want to talk about it : overcoming the secret legacy of male depression might be given a call number of GB R43 1998 or CA R43 1998

Download the OCH poster. (Adobe PDF file on A1 paper.)

A - Reference
 AA - General reference
 AB - Medical reference
 AC - Anatomy/physiology

B - Promoting health/preventing disease
 BA - Promoting health/preventing disease
 BB - Nutrition/food/weight control/eating disorders
 BC - Fitness / exercise/sports medicine
 BD - Environmental health/occupational health
 BE - Public health and safety

C - Mental health/illness
  CA - Mental health/illness
  CB - Stress
  CC - Psychotherapies
  CD - Mental disorders
  CE - Physical/emotional abuse
  CF - Relationships

D -Substance use
  DA - Addictive behavior
  DB - Chemical dependency
  DC - Alcoholism
  DD - Smoking
  DE - Other tobacco

E - Therapies / treatments
  EA - Drugs
  EB - First aid/emergency medicine
  EC - Radiology
  ED - Surgery
  EF - Rehabilitation medicine
  EG - Caregiving
  EH - Complementary therapies
  EI - Biological therapies/immunotherapies
  EJ - Massage/touch therapies

F - Body systems and diseases
  FA - General medicine
  FB - Bones /joints/ muscles
  FC - Blood/lymphatic system
  FD - Cardiovascular system
  FE - Cancer
  FF - Immune system
  FG - Infectious diseases
  FH - Eye
  FI - Ear/ nose / throat
  FJ - Dental care
  FK - Gastrointestinal system
  FL - Endocrine system
  FM - Nervous system
  FN - Skin/hair/nails
  FO - Urinary system

G -Life processes
  GA - Sexuality
   GA 100 Female
   GA 200 Male
  GB - Men's health
  GC - Contraception/family planning
  GD - Fertility / infertility
  GE - Women's health
  GF - Pregnancy/childbirth
  GG - Genetics/genetic disorders
  GH - Children's health
  GI - Young adults
  GJ - Health care needs of special populations/groups
   GJ 100 Blind/vision impaired
   GJ 200 Deaf/hard of hearing
  GK - Adults
  GL - Older adults
  GM - Death and dying

H - Health care consumerism
  HA - Consumer health issues
  HB - Consumer health law
  HC - Medical ethics
  HD - Health care economics
  HE - Insurance

I - Health care field
  IA - Perspectives in health care
  IB - Health care delivery systems
  IC - Health professions/careers

J - Animal health
  JA - Animal health
  JB - Animal behavior training
  JC - Animal rights
  JD - Animal therapies

K - Spirituality
  KA - Christianity
  KB - Judaism
  KC - Islam
  KD - Buddhism
  KE - Hinduism
  KF - Eastern religions
  KG - Indigenous religions
  KH - Other

L - Alternative medicine
  LA - Chiropractic
  LB - Herbal medicine
  LC - Holistic medicine
  LD - Naturopathy
  LE - Eastern medicine
  LF - Other modalities