A patient classification system for ambulatory care

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.