title: Patient classification system: an optimization approach.
abstract: A patient classification system was developed integrating a patient acuity instrument with a computerized nursing distribution method based on an optimization algorithm. The objective was to minimize the total number of nursing personnel used by optimally assigning the nursing staff to meet the acuity needs of the various clinical units in the hospital. The validity of the model to assign staff was established by a 30-day comparison with the existing manual method of assignment.
authors.affiliation: Herman Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Walts
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kapadia
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification*; D010562:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling Information Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013781:Texas; D016526:Workload