A cost analysis for hospitalized patients was performed based on the RBRVS in order to deter-mine an ,appropriate nursing fee schedule. The study was conducted through three phases as follows
1) Nursing activities provided for the inpatients currently in Korea were identified and classified using a taxonomy which was developed by our research team through the Delphi process.
2) Th.´ resource-based relative points for every nursing activity according to nursing time, mental effort and judgement, technical skill, physical effort and stress were determined through a survey of 300 clinical RNs working at 5 tertiary hospitals from May 25 to July 25, 1998.
3) The nursing cost of every nursing activity for hospital´,zed patients was estimated based on the RBRVS.
As a result, 136 nursing activities were identified and classified by nursing processes and nursing domain:. However. our classification system of nursing activities should continue to be refined, and all nursing practices should be standardized.
The nursing activities were given resource-based relativE~ points ranging from 100 to 400 points. then e~ich nursing activity was assigned a value for the RBRVS, which was determined by the exponential function of 2resource-based relative point/100. Thus, a value of 2 was calculated for 100 points. 4 for 200 points. 8 for 300 points, and 16 .for 400 points.
Meanwhile, the unit cost of nursing was calculated z~s 170 Won. The nursing cost of 136 nursing activities was estimated using the RBRVS as shown in Ctable 10>. A proper nursing fee.schedule for a new reimbursement system based upon the results of the ~~bove study should be prepared in the near future.
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