Predicting length of stay for acute medical admissions using the ALICE score: a simple bedside tool
Wilding, D.; Evans, K.
Acute Medicine 16(2): 60-64
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 1747-4892 PMID: 28787034 Document Number: 17215
Early identification of patients likely to have a short admission permits best use of limited resources to facilitate rapid discharge where possible. The ALICE score is a simple bedside tool developed in one hospital as a decision aid. This study sought to confirm its widespread applicability. Retrospective review of 250 consecutive admissions at five acute hospitals. Clinical records were reviewed for a total of 1003 patients. ALICE score was calculated for each patient and compared to LoS data. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between rising ALICE scores and increasing length of stay irrespective of final diagnoses. The ALICE score provides a simple bedside tool to predict length of stay.
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