Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42793515›Full record

ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2026

HealthCare Complexity Index (HCIn): A Clinical Decision-Making Tool for Primary Care.

Enrique Monsalvo-San Macario, Andrea Sierra-Ortega, Rosa Fernández-Fernández, Verónica Sánchez-Niño, Almudena Del Puerto-Claros, Juan Antonio Sarrión-Bravo, Alexandra González-Aguña, Jose María Santamaría-García

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Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Enrique Monsalvo-San MacarioDepartment of Computer Science, University of Alcala, 28805 Madrid, Spain.
Andrea Sierra-OrtegaHospital Care Research Group (iCuHo), Health Research Institute of La Princesa University Hospital, Madrid Health Service, 28006 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-2949-3630
Rosa Fernández-FernándezHospital Care Research Group (iCuHo), Health Research Institute of La Princesa University Hospital, Madrid Health Service, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Verónica Sánchez-NiñoHospital Care Research Group (iCuHo), Health Research Institute of La Princesa University Hospital, Madrid Health Service, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Almudena Del Puerto-ClarosHospital Care Research Group (iCuHo), Health Research Institute of La Princesa University Hospital, Madrid Health Service, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Juan Antonio Sarrión-BravoHospital Care Research Group (iCuHo), Health Research Institute of La Princesa University Hospital, Madrid Health Service, 28006 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-6749-0882
Alexandra González-AguñaHospital Care Research Group (iCuHo), Health Research Institute of La Princesa University Hospital, Madrid Health Service, 28006 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-9991-6980
Jose María Santamaría-GarcíaHospital Care Research Group (iCuHo), Health Research Institute of La Princesa University Hospital, Madrid Health Service, 28006 Madrid, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPopulation ageing, multimorbidity, and chronic conditions have increased the demand for person-centred care in Primary Health Care. Current stratification systems rely on diagnoses or resource utilization and fail to capture the multidimensional nature of care complexity, which also depends on functional, social, environmental factors.

objectiveTo develop a HealthCare Complexity Index using routinely collected electronic health record (EHR) data and the Person-Centred Care Knowledge Model. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective, cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Primary Health Care in the Community of Madrid (Spain). Deductive Care Methodology was used to identify functional assessment variables associated with four care dimensions: vulnerability, risk, etiology, and signs/symptoms. A multidisciplinary expert panel selected and validated the variables through iterative consensus rounds. A weighted scoring algorithm, the Care Complexity Index, was designed to quantify care complexity on a 0-100 scale. Relationships between the selected variables and NANDA-I nursing diagnoses were established and validated by an expert in standardized nursing languages.

results27 assessment variables were identified and classified into the 4 dimensions of the care model. These variables were integrated into a weighted complexity index with five severity levels ranging from low to critical complexity. Furthermore, 48 NANDA-I nursing diagnoses were linked to the selected variables.

conclusionsThe HealthCare Complexity Index provides a standardized, person-centred approach for estimating care complexity using routinely available (EHR) data. It may support early identification of individuals with complex care needs, facilitate individualized care planning, and strengthen clinical decision-making. Future studies should validate its predictive performance and implementation in other clinical practice.

Indexed as

electronic health recordshealthcare innovationmultimorbiditypatient-centered carepersonalized careprimary Health CARErisk Index

Identifiers

PMID42793515
PMCPMC13606558

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.