CARING Criteria for Palliative Care Referral
5-item screen at hospital admission for 1-year mortality (Fischer 2006), used to trigger palliative-care referral. Each criterion present scores 1.
Score interpretation
→ Standard care. Re-screen at next admission.
→ Consider palliative-care referral if symptom burden, complex decisions or care coordination needed.
→ Activate palliative-care referral. Advance care planning / ReSPECT; preferred place of care; symptom optimisation; carer / family support; consider hospice referral. Sensitivity 89%, specificity 73% for 1-year mortality.
Interpretation bands for the CARING. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.