Per AAMT-BOS2
[ Post a Reply ] [ View Follow Ups ] [ Word Help Board ]
Posted By:
anon on 2008-08-18
In Reply to: Grade / Classification - Chris
Subject: Per AAMT-BOS2
classification systems
Systematic arrangements into groups or classes.
See: cancer classifications, cardiology, obstetrics, and orthopedics.
Some classification systems use arabic numerals and others call for roman. In some systems there is no agreement on the use of roman versus arabic numerals. There is a trend away from the use of roman numerals, and generally speaking, the preference is for using arabic numerals unless it is documented that roman numerals are required. Several classification systems are listed below; check appropriate references for additional guidance.
Apgar score
Assessment of newborn's condition in which pulse, breathing, color, tone, and reflex irritability are each rated 0, 1, or 2, at one minute and five minutes after birth. Each set of ratings is totaled, and both totals are reported. Named after Virginia Apgar, MD.
Do not confuse with APGAR questionnaire for family assessment.
Use initial capital only.
Express ratings with arabic numerals.
Write out the numbers related to minutes, so that attention is drawn to the scores and confusion is avoided.
Apgars 7 and 9 at one and five minutes.
Ballard scale
A scoring system for assessing the gestational age of infants based on neuromuscular and physical maturity. Scores are converted to gestational age (in weeks).
Express in arabic numerals.
score age (weeks)
5 26
10 28
15 30
20 32
25 34
30 36
35 38
40 40
45 42
50 44
burn classifications
Burns are described as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th degree, according to burn depth.
AAMT recommends dropping the hyphen in the adjective form (e.g., 1st degree burn), though use of the hyphen is acceptable.
Expressing ordinals as numerals is preferred to writing them out: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th degree burns, not first, second, third, and fourth degree burns.
Rule of Nines: Formula, based on multiples of 9, for determining percentage of burned body surface. This formula does not apply to children because a child's head is disproportionately large.
head 9%
each arm 9%
each leg 18%
anterior trunk 18%
posterior trunk 18%
perineum 1%
Berkow formula: Rule of Nines adjusted for a patient's age. Assigns a higher percentage to a child's head, which is larger than an adult's head in proportion to its body.
Catterall hip score
Rating system for Legg-Perthes disease (pediatric avascular necrosis of the femoral head).
Use roman numerals I (no findings) through IV (involvement of entire femoral head).
Child classification of hepatic risk criteria
Classification of operative risk.
Capitalize Child (eponymic term), lowercase class, and capitalize the letter that follows.
Child class A
Child class B
Child class C
decubitus ulcers
Decubitus ulcers are classified using roman numerals from stage I (nonblanchable erythema of intact skin) through stage IV (full-thickness skin loss with extensive tissue destruction).
diabetes mellitus classifications
See: diabetes mellitus
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Measures daytime sleepiness on a scale of 1 to 24. Use arabic numerals.
Less than 8: Normal sleep function
8-10: Mild sleepiness
11-15: Moderate sleepiness
16-20: Severe sleepiness
21-24: Excessive sleepiness
The patient's Epworth Sleepiness Scale is 16.
fracture classifications
See: orthopedics
French scale
Sizing system for catheters, sounds, and other tubular instruments. Each unit is approximately 0.33 mm in diameter.
Express in arabic numerals.
Precede by # or No. if the word "number" is dictated.
Do not lowercase French.
5-French catheter
#5-French catheter
catheter, size 5 French
Keep in mind that French is linked to diameter size and is not the eponymic name of an instrument. Thus, it is a 15-French catheter, not a French catheter, size 15.
Glasgow coma scale
Describes level of consciousness of patients with head injuries by testing the patient's ability to respond to verbal, motor, and sensory stimulation.
Each parameter is scored on a scale of 1 through 5, then totals are added together to indicate level of consciousness. (Glasgow refers to Glasgow, Scotland.)
score level of consciousness
14 or 15 normal
7 or less coma
3 or less brain death
global assessment of functioning (GAF) scale
A scale used by mental health professionals to assess an individual's overall psychological functioning. Typically reported in a psychiatric diagnosis as axis V.
Use arabic numerals 0 (inadequate information) through 100 (superior functioning in a wide range of activities).
Axis V GAF = 60 Flat affect.
See: diagnosis for a more complete discussion of psychiatric diagnoses.
global assessment of relational functioning (GARF) scale
This scale is used by mental health professionals to measure an overall functioning of a family or other ongoing relationship. Use arabic numerals from 0 (inadequate information) to 100 (relational unit functioning satisfactorily from self-report of participants and from perspectives of observers).
GVHD grading system
Graft-versus-host disease.
Use arabic numerals 1 (mild) through 4 (severe), placed on the line directly after the abbreviation (no space). May also be expressed as clinical grade 1 through 4.
GVHD1 or GVHD clinical grade 1
GVHD2 or GVHD clinical grade 2
GVHD3 or GVHD clinical grade 3
GVHD4 or GVHD clinical grade 4
Harvard criteria for brain death
In addition to body temperature equal to or higher than 32°C and the absence of central nervous system depressants, all of the following criteria must be met in order to establish brain death.
unreceptivity and unresponsiveness
no movement or breathing
no reflexes
flat electroencephalogram (confirmatory)
Hunt and Hess neurological classification
Classifies prognosis of patients with hemorrhage.
Write out and lowercase grade; do not abbreviate.
Use arabic numerals 1 through 4.
grade 3
Kurtzke disability score
Two-part scoring system to evaluate patients with multiple sclerosis.
Part one evaluates functional systems (pyramidal, cerebellar, brain stem, sensory, bowel and bladder, visual, mental, and other).
Part two is a disability status scale from 0 to 10.
Use arabic numerals.
magnitude scale
Measures earthquake magnitude. A one-unit increase on the scale equals a tenfold increase in ground motion.
Express with arabic numerals and decimal point.
She was injured in an earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude.
Mallampati-Samsoon classification of airway
With the patient seated upright, mouth opened as wide as possible and tongue protruding, the anesthesiologist examines the airway—soft palate, tonsillar fauces, tonsillar pillars, and uvula—to evaluate the ease or difficulty of intubation: class I (easy intubation) through class IV (nearly impossible intubation).
Lowercase class and use roman numerals.
NYHA classification of cardiac failure
Use roman numerals I (asymptomatic) through IV (severe cardiac failure).
See: cardiology
Outerbridge scale
Assesses damage in chondromalacia patellae.
Lowercase grade.
Use arabic numerals 1 (minimal) through 4 (excessive).
Diagnosis: Chondromalacia patellae, grade 3.
physical status classification
A classification developed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists to classify a patient's risk of complications from surgery.
Lowercase class and use arabic numerals (1 through 5). The capital letter E is added to indicate an emergency operation.
class 1E
Rancho Los Amigos cognitive function scale
Neurologic assessment tool. Levels I through VIII are written with roman numerals.
I no response
II generalized response to stimulation
III localized response to stimuli
IV confused and agitated behavior
V confused with inappropriate behavior (nonagitated)
VI confused but appropriate behavior
VII automatic and appropriate behavior
VIII purposeful and appropriate behavior
social and occupational functioning assessment scale (SOFAS)
The SOFAS is an instrument used by mental health professionals to assess an individual's social and occupational functioning only.
See: global assessment of functioning (GAF) scale above
Use arabic numerals from 0 (inadequate information) through 100 (superior functioning in a wide range of activities).
TIMI system
See: cardiology terminology
trauma score
Scoring system that measures systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and expansion, capillary refill, eye opening, and verbal and motor responses on a scale of 2 through 16. Score predicts injury severity and probability of survival.
Use arabic numerals.
Reply By E-mail ||
Post QUICK reply [ See Related Messages ]
Follow-ups:
|
Per AAMT-BOS2 - anon
