Patient Classification System
Summary of Categories, Staffing, and
Formulas
Introduction
• • A patient classification system categorizes
patients based on care needs observed by
nurses.
• • Serves as a basis for planning staffing needs.
• • Methods: Descriptive, Checklist, and Time
Standard/Relative Value Unit (RVU).
Methods of Patient Classification
• • Descriptive Method – nurse assigns patient
to a care category.
• • Checklist Style – categorizes care routines
like eating and bathing.
• • RVU Systems – assign value units (time) to
activities of care.
Categories of Patient Care
• • Category I: Minimal Care – 1–2 hrs/day;
convalescing, less frequent monitoring.
• • Category II: Moderate Care – 3–4 hrs/day;
moderately ill, postop, needs some
supervision.
• • Category III: Maximum Care – 7–8 hrs/day;
close attention, frequent treatments.
• • Category IV: Intensive Care – 10–14 hrs/day;
acutely ill, intensive therapy, unstable
condition.
Staffing Formulas
• • Factors: coverage, vacations, holidays,
absenteeism, staff development.
• • Example: If nurses work 5 days/week, 1.4
nurses are needed for 7-day coverage.
• • Vacation, holiday, absentee, and staff
development relief must be included.
Types of Staff
• • Full-time Staff – meet average staffing
needs, stable coverage.
• • Part-time Staff – flexible, can reduce
shortages, but costly to orient.
• – Disadvantages: high costs, continuity of
care issues, fewer benefits.
• • Rightsizing/Downsizing – adjusting staffing
to needs.
• • Productivity – output measured as work
produced vs resources used.
Computing Staffing Needs
• 1. Categorize patients by level of care.
• 2. Find nursing hours needed per patient per
day.
• 3. Multiply by 365 for yearly total.
• 4. Divide by actual working hours per nurse
per year.
• 5. Add relief (holidays, absences).
• 6. Categorize into professional and non-
professional.
Example: 100 Patients in Tertiary
Hospital
• • 65 patients: Minimal Care (97.5 NCH/day)
• • 30 patients: Moderate Care (90 NCH/day)
• • 5 patients: Intensive Care (22.5 NCH/day)
• • Total = 210 NCH/day × 365 = 76,650
NCH/year
• • Requires 44 nursing personnel + 4 relievers =
48 total
• • Ratio: Professional vs Non-professional
depends on level of care.