title: A primer on patient classification systems and their relevance to ambulatory care.
abstract: In order to compete in today's health care market arena, hospitals are moving from process management to product (case type) management. Many methodologies are being researched, evaluated, and developed to provide a workable system of measuring product (disease treatment) output. This article provides an overview of some of the more promising systems undergoing development at this time.
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000145:classification*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States