Patient Classification System for a General Hospital Ward

self care

I

minimal care

II

moderate care

III

extensive care

IV

intensive care

V

activities of daily living

self-sufficient or needs little assistance

I

may require assistance for some activities

II

needs some assistance with most activities

III

needs considerable assistance for most activities, or unable to care for self

IV

general health

good

I

mild symptoms

II

ill

III

seriously ill

IV

critical

V

teaching and emotional support

none or minimal

I

requires 5-10 minutes per shift

II

requires 10-30 minutes per shift

III

requires more than 30 minutes per shift

IV

mental status

may require orientation to time, place or person once a shift

I

may be mildly confused, belligerent or agitated but can be well-controlled; may need to assess mental status every 2 hours

II

may be confused, belligerent or agitated fairly well controlled ; may need to assess mental status every hour

III

may be confused, belligerent or agitated but is not controllable; may need to assess mental status several times an hour

IV

treatment and medications

none or simple

I

requires 20-30 minutes per shift; needs evaluation of treatment effectiveness frequently

II

requires 30-60 minutes per shift

III

requires more than 60 minutes per shift

IV

continuous or almost continuous

V

observation and monitoring

none or minimal

I

requires infrequent monitoring

II

requires intermittent monitoring (of drainage or infusion)

III

frequent monitoring

IV

requires one-on-one or continuous monitoring for the entire shift

V

eating

feeds self or needs minimal assistance

I

can feed self; needs help in preparing or positioning food; may need to be encouraged to eat

II

needs to be fed but can chew and swallow

III

difficulty chewing and swallowing; may need tube feeding

IV

difficulty chewing and swallowing; may need parenteral feeding

V

grooming

self-sufficient

I

can do majority of care unassisted or with minimal assistance

II

unable to do much by self

III

unable to assist at all

IV

excretion

out of bed to bathroom alone or almost alone; continent

I

needs help getting to bathroom or with use of urinal; may experience occasional stress incontinence or dribbling

II

needs bedpan; incontinent 1-2 times each shift

III

incontinent more than 2 times each shift

IV

may be completely incontinent

V

comfort

self-sufficient

I

can do mostly by self, may need minimal assistance

II

needs help turning but can be managed by 1 person

III

cannot assist in turning and needs 2 people to turn

IV

cannot assist in turning and needs 2 or more people to turn

V