Improving resource utilization through patient dependency systems.

Hospitals are striving for funds and at the same time are required to improve the delivery and quality health care to patients. Naturally this strains hospital resources and requires sophistication in planning and in resource utilization. Nursing staff time remains one of the most important resources that require careful planning. Scheduling the time and duties of the nursing staff on the basis of patients' needs could improve the quality of care and ultimately leads to efficient utilization of hospital resources. This paper presents a model for allocating nursing staff duties using a Patient Dependency System. The model was developed using a time motion study conducted in a leading hospital. Resource utilization indexes were compared before and after the model was implemented. Results show significant increase in the efficiency of utilization of resources and improvement in the quality of the care. The model presented as a set of decision making rules suitable for use in a Patient Dependency Knowledge Based System.