palliative general-medicine

CARING Criteria for Palliative Care Referral

CARING prognostic index (Fischer 2006) applied at hospital admission to estimate the risk of death within 1 year and identify patients who may benefit from a palliative approach.

Score interpretation

CARING ≤ 4 — 1-Year Mortality < 18 % 0–4

Lowest risk stratum of the CARING index (Fischer 2006).

→ Standard care. Re-screen at next admission.

CARING 5–12 — 1-Year Mortality 18–48 % 5–12

Intermediate risk stratum (Fischer 2006).

→ Consider palliative-care referral if symptom burden, complex decisions or care coordination needed.

CARING ≥ 13 — 1-Year Mortality ≥ 49 % 13–44

Highest risk stratum (Fischer 2006).

→ Activate palliative-care referral. Advance care planning / ReSPECT; preferred place of care; symptom optimisation; carer / family support; consider hospice referral.

Interpretation bands for the CARING. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.

References

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Drugs

Pathways

Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.

Score interpretation

References

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