Glossary
Apache II
A severity of illness score that measures the degree of acute physiological impairment.
Bartel Index
An assessment of the ability of individuals to perform activities of daily living.
Day
08:00 to 17:59.
Early warning system/score
See 'track and trigger system' below.
Evening
18:00 to 23:59.
Glasgow Coma Score
A method of assessing the level of consciousness of a patient.
Levels of care |
Level 0 |
Patients whose needs can be met through normal ward care in an acute hospital. |
Level 1 |
Patients at risk of their condition deteriorating, or those recently relocated from higher levels of care, whose needs can be met on an acute ward with additional advice and support from the critical care team. |
Level 2 |
Patients requiring more detailed observation or intervention including support for a single failing organ system or postoperative care and those “stepping down” from higher levels
of care. |
Level 3 |
Patients requiring advanced respiratory support alone, or basic respiratory support together with support of at least two organ systems. This level includes all complex patients requiring support for multi-organ failure. |
Local reporter
A hospital member of staff who provides information on cases to NCEPOD.
Medical intensive care patient
Those referred to intensive care by a physician and, if they survived, were subsequently discharged
to the care of a physician.
Night
00:00 to 07:59.
Outreach service
A service that: averts admissions by identifying patients who are deteriorating; enables early discharges and shares critical care skills 10.
Track and trigger system
A method of using physiological scoring to trigger action. Early warning scoring systems are based upon the allocation of 'points' to physiological observations, the calculation of a total 'score' and the designation of an agreed calling 'trigger' level.
Unselected medical emergency admissions
Patients admitted as an emergency whose illness cannot immediately be identified.
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