Hospital Status Admission Determination The Use of Boolean Logic, Set Theory, and Information Theory to Improve Accuracy

Purpose: To evaluate methods of logic, set theory, and information theory in developing a conceptual framework that would be useful in an educational process as well as in developing a consistent and rational method for hospital status determination. Objectives: To implement these methods on a daily basis in interaction with nurse case managers, physicians, and in documentation of the process. Primary practice setting: A tertiary private, not-for-profit institution within the department of case management and utilization review. Findings: These methods were well accepted by those involved in the decision process and allowed a Case Management Assignment Protocol to function well in the hospital environment with a low level of disagreement and conflict. Conclusions: Medical information can be processed effectively with conceptual models of logic and information theory. The used commercial screening systems are described well by set theory and are intersecting sets of patient variables and characteristics. Implications for case management practice: These methods can be used in educational processes in practice settings apart from those using the Case Management Assignment Protocol. It provides a basis for evaluation of patients' presentations that use important factors such as clinical uncertainty, patient specific data, and reference to preexisting admission criteria.