Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.37(3) > 1063626

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Sung, Song, and Park: Estimation of Nursing Costs by a Patient Classification System(PCS) in ICU
Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2007; 37(3): 373-380.

Published online: 30 April 2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2007.37.3.373

Estimation of Nursing Costs by a Patient Classification System(PCS) in ICU

Younghee Sung1, Mi Sook Song2, Jungho Park3

1Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Korea.

2Associate Professor, College of Nursing Science, Ajou University, Korea.

3Professor, Emeritus of Seoul National University, Korea.

msong@ajou.ac.kr

Copyright © 2007 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of our study was to figure out costs of nursing services in ICU based on the PCS in order to determine an appropriate nursing fee schedule.

Method

Data was collected from 2 hospitals from April 15-16 to April 22-23, 2003. The costs of nursing services in the ICU were analyzed by nursing time based on the nursing intensity. The inpatients in the ICU were classified by a PCS tool developed by the Korean Clinical Nurses Association(2000).

Results

The distribution of patients by PCS in the ICU ranged from class IV to Class VI. The higher PCS in ICU consumed more nursing time. As a result, the higher nursing intensity, the more the daily average nursing costs in the ICU.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence to refine the current nursing fee schedule that does not differentiate from the volume of nursing services based on nursing time. We strongly recommend that the current reimbursement system for nursing services should be applied not only to the general nursing units but also to the ICU or other special nursing units.

Keywords: Nursing costs, Nursing time, Patient classification system, ICU

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