Patient classification system: an optimization approach.

A patient classification system was developed integrating a patient acuity instrument with a computerized nursing distribution method based on an optimization algorithm. The objective was to minimize the total number of nursing personnel used by optimally assigning the nursing staff to meet the acuity needs of the various clinical units in the hospital. The validity of the model to assign staff was established by a 30-day comparison with the existing manual method of assignment.

A comparison of thromboelastogram and template bleeding time in the evaluation of platelet function after aspirin ingestion.

Study Objective: To compare template bleeding time (TBT) with thromboelastography (TEG) in human subjects after aspirin ingestion.

Design: Healthy volunteers were given a single 650 mg dose of aspirin or a dose of 650 mg of aspirin on three successive days. TBT and TEG studies were performed prior to aspirin ingestion and 4, 24, 72, and 168 hours after ingestion.