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Approach To Medical Futility In A Community Hospital: Is Use Of A Prognostic Scoring System Applicable?, Sandra M. Terra

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

All acute care medical facilities and healthcare providers are faced with cases of medical futility. Guidance must ensure the initiation of communication with the patient or family regarding end of life planning. Identification of certain physiological features may provide impetus for such communication. In an effort to identify the physiological variables that may trigger discussion in a futile medical treatment policy, the application of a prognostic scoring system is examined. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Score (APACHE II) system, a widely applied set of acute, chronic and diagnostic variables, is identified through literature review. This paper examines the …