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
Lowest risk stratum of the CARING index (Fischer 2006).
→ Standard care. Re-screen at next admission.
Intermediate risk stratum (Fischer 2006).
→ Consider palliative-care referral if symptom burden, complex decisions or care coordination needed.
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
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- Falls Assessment in Older Adults · NICE CG161 2013
- Anaemia Investigation · BSH / NICE
- Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (Primary Care) · NICE NG138 / NICE antimicrobial guidance
- Hypertension Management · NICE NG136 2019
- Sepsis Screening and Sepsis Six · UK Sepsis Trust; NICE NG51; Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2021
- Unintentional Weight Loss Workup · NICE NG12; BSG
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.
