title: Developing and computerizing a patient classification system in a rehabilitation nursing setting.
abstract: This article describes the process of developing and computerizing a patient classification tool for rehabilitation nursing. When the nursing department of Sharp Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center in San Diego, CA, and the nursing division of the entire hospital decided to develop a new acuity instrument, a decision was made to design a tool that would be specific for every unit but would comply with certain parameters to allow for computerizing the system. Computerization of the instrument resulted in a decrease in staff nurses' time spent rating patients, improved accuracy of ratings, ease of auditing, improved management reports, and a decrease in clerical time.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gender
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D006801:Humans; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000451:nursing*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers