Classify Patients

Patient Workload Levels

The UKG Clinical Scheduling Extensions solution allows for manual classification of patients using the professional judgment model or for a combination of automated classification with professional review using the hybrid model.

Patient workload levels are designed to reflect the intensity of care required by patients, based on guidelines defined for each individual unit.

Although criteria and guidelines usually vary from one unit to another, it is expected that most patients will be classified as Average regardless of the type of unit. Remember, Average should represent the type of patient most commonly seen on the unit.
Note Some units use the Medium label instead of the Average label.
There are two ways to determine the patient workload level:

  • Some units choose to have patient workload levels determined by the nurse (in compliance with unit guidelines). This method is referred to as the "professional judgment model."

  • Some units will set an automated workload level based on information in the patient's electronic medical record but expect nurses to review that level and edit, if necessary, based on their professional judgment and unit guidelines. This method is referred to as the "hybrid model."

Although patient workload levels and shading are configurable, the most common configuration choice is: Low (pink), Average (green), High (blue), and Extreme (yellow).

Patient names are shaded a specific color to reflect that patient's corresponding workload level, based on information in their medical records. data-driven classification (DDC) scores display in the patients' DDC cells.

If a patient's classification is changed based on professional judgment, the shading on the patient's name changes. However, the DDC column reflects (in cross-hatching) the original DDC level shading for that patient.

If the patient's medical orders change after the patient is reclassified by a licensed caregiver, a note icon displays in the DDC cell. The professional judgment classification is not overridden.

Unit Guidelines

Units define guidelines that inform decisions nurses make when classifying patients. Although comparable units may have identical or similar guidelines, the guidelines may differ significantly between diverse types of units (for example, medical-surgical and critical care). The guidelines can be printed from the Reporting tab. They are also available as a button report on the Assignments tab.

View Classification Guidelines

The Rationale Guidelines report in the UKG Pro Workload Manager for Healthcare is easily accessible from the Assignments page.

Navigation:Workload > Manage > Assignments

  1. On the Assignments page, select the Guidelines button.
    The Rationale Guidelines report opens.
  2. Use the navigation options at the top of the report to view next and previous pages.
  3. After you have viewed or printed the report, close the tab or window.

Classify Patients by Workload Level

Patients can be classified as low, average, high, or extreme. Workload definitions for each of these classification levels are determined at the unit level by the organization.

Navigation:Workload > Manage > Assignments

  1. From the Patient List panel on the Assignments page, select a patient.
    Note When classifying multiple patients at the same level, hold down the Ctrl-key on the keyboard and select the other patient(s).
  2. Below the Patient List panel, select the appropriate workload level action button: Low, Average, High, or Extreme.
    1. When selecting the Low or Average action button, the classification process is complete at this step, unless your organization requires that you select a rationale for each patient regardless of workload level.
    2. When selecting the High or Extreme action button, the Rationale dialog box appears, listing the rationales associated with a higher-intensity level. Select the appropriate rationale(s) for the patient from the Rationale dialog box.
      Note When selecting the High or Extreme action button for multiple patients at once, a separate tab appears for each patient in the Rationale dialog box. Select each patient's tab to select the appropriate rationales for that patient.
  3. In the Rationale dialog box, select Save & Close.