title: A patient classification system for ambulatory care.
abstract: Patient classification systems (PCSs) for ambulatory care are difficult to develop because there are so few similarities among groups of patients and/or diagnoses in relation to the required nursing activities. In addition, the nursing activities required for specific patients and/or diagnoses also are dissimilar in relation to nursing time required. Therefore, a PCS was developed to assess staffing needs. This outpatient classification system reflects actual nursing time spent with each patient.
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Care/Leestown Division, VA Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care; D010045:Outpatients / Q000145:classification*; D013996:Time and Motion Studies