Medical state
(Redirected from Stable condition)
A medical state, also commonly referred to as a medical condition, encompasses the description of a hospital patient's health status or well-being. This term often appears in information provided to the news media. Notably, while it's prevalent in media reports, it is seldom utilized as a clinical description by physicians. The medical state can encompass two primary dimensions: the patient's present health condition and their anticipated short-term prognosis.
Aspects of Medical State Reporting[edit | edit source]
- Current State: This pertains to the patient's present health condition, which can be described using terms like "good" or "serious."
- Short-term Prognosis: This refers to the expected trajectory of the patient's health in the immediate future. Terminology may include descriptions like "improving" or "deteriorating." The term stable is frequently employed to signify conditions where there are consistent vital signs, indicating no imminent drastic changes. However, it's imperative to note that "stable" can still coexist with other terms like "critical," implying that the situation, while severe, is not expected to change immediately.
Descriptive Terms by Region[edit | edit source]
United States[edit | edit source]
In the United States, a variety of terms might be employed to depict a patient's condition. The American Hospital Association provides specific guidelines for physicians when describing a patient's state, especially when addressing inquiries from the media.[1]
- ;Undetermined: Patient awaits a physician assessment.
- ;Good: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. The patient is conscious and comfortable.
- ;Fair: Stable vital signs within normal limits but the patient may be uncomfortable.
- ;Serious: Vital signs may fluctuate outside of normal ranges, indicating a seriously ill patient.
- ;Critical: Unstable vital signs outside of typical bounds. The patient might be unconscious.
- ;Dead: Ceased vital signs indicate the patient has passed away.
Other U.S. Terms[edit | edit source]
Apart from the standard terms, several others might be employed, including:
The American Hospital Association advises against the standalone use of "stable" or in tandem with terms like "critical."[1] The term "critical" in mainstream contexts often denotes severe and life-threatening conditions. The advent of the HIPAA in 1996 saw a rise in the use of these terms in U.S. media, as concerns regarding patient privacy and potential litigation increased.
Notably, definitions might vary among different hospitals. A patient's status could change without any alteration in their actual health condition, based simply on their location.[2]
United Kingdom[edit | edit source]
In the UK, each National Health Service (NHS) trust sets its guidance for media statements. There are no official definitions for standard phrases in the Department of Health's code of practice. However, typical terms employed by NHS trusts include:
- Deceased
- Brain dead
- Critical
- Critical but stable
- Serious
- Stable
- Satisfactory
- Comfortable
- Progressing well
- Discharged
The release of patient information to the press is strictly controlled in the NHS. The Department of Health publishes a guideline to NHS Trusts.
See also[edit | edit source]
Lua error in mw.title.lua at line 318: bad argument #2 to 'title.new' (unrecognized namespace name 'Portal').
- Medical condition as observable medical attributes
Medical state Resources | |
---|---|
|
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 American Hospital Association; (2003-02-01). AHA: Advisory: HIPAA Updated Guidelines for Releasing Information on the Condition of Patients.
- ↑ The Straight Dope on patient conditions
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD