An accountability-classification instrument for orthopaedic patients

The development and implementation of a new combined nursing accountability-patient classification instrument that demonstrates the quantitative measurement of nursing care for both physical and psychoemotional patient parameters are described. Although developed for the orthopaedic patient, the whole concept can be applied to any patient group. The primary purposes of the instrument are to provide for accurate and timely documentation of of the instrument are to provide for accurate and timely documentation of patient care provided, to estimate productivity by predicting the need for nursing care resources, and to establish a database for variable patient billing based on quantified nursing care requirements.