title: Measuring nursing intensity in ambulatory care. Part I: Approaches to and uses of patient classification systems.
abstract: Part I of this two-part series summarizes medical and nursing approaches to patient classification in ambulatory care. The conceptual basis for the Patient Intensity for Nursing: Ambulatory Care (PINAC) also is described as are important contemporary uses of data from Patient Classification Systems (PCS). Part two of this series, which will appear in the March/April 1996 issue, will present data on the reliability and validity of the PINAC.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Soeken
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000145:classification*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016526:Workload