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Benchmarking in nursing care by the RAFAELA patient classification system – a possibility for nurse managers
Author(s) -
FAGERSTRÖM LISBETH,
RAUHALA AUVO
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2934.2006.00728.x
Subject(s) - benchmarking , nursing , workload , medicine , nursing care , nursing management , business , computer science , marketing , operating system
Aim The aim of the study was to explore the possibilities of benchmarking with the RAFAELA system. In this study, comparisons are made between: (1) costs for one nursing care intensity point; (2) the nursing care intensity per nurse; (3) the relationship between nursing care intensity per nurse and (4) the optimal nursing care intensity. Background During the period from 1994 to 2000 a new system for patient classification, the RAFAELA system, was developed in Finland. Methods 86 wards from 14 different hospitals in Finland took part in the study. Results The costs for one nursing care intensity point on the adults’ wards were on average 7.80€. The average workload was 25.2 nursing care intensity points per nurse. The optimal nursing care intensity was exceeded during 49.5% of the days and under during 20% of the days. Conclusions The study shows that benchmarking with the RAFAELA system provides many opportunities for the nurse managers’ resource allocation and their personnel administration.