title: A patient classification system for emergency events in home care.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a uniform classification system that provides a way for home care agencies to classify patient priority needs for evacuation, transport, supportive care, and use of staffing resources in an emergency/disaster situation/bioterroristic event.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Home Care Association of New Jersey, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550-1030, USA. jfs@homecarenj.org
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sienkiewicz
authors.forename: Ginny
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cubbage
mesh_terms: D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D004630:Emergencies / Q000451:nursing*; D006292:Health Priorities; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification*; D023481:Terrorism; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration