DEFINITION:
Done at admission to Model System Emergency Dept. only
CODE:
a. Respiratory Rate -- code actual rate per minute (use 3 characters)
888 Unmeasurable (bagged or on mechanical ventilation)
999 Unknown
c. Systolic Blood Pressure -- code actual blood pressure (use 3 characters)
888 Unmeasurable
999 Unknown
NOTE:
Computer will calculate Revised Trauma Score from these data and the GCS (variable 139).
If a range rather than a single score is given for Respiratory Rate or Systolic Blood Pressure, enter the RAW SCORE that (a) produces the worst code, using the coding equivalents below, and (b) is closest to the midpoint of the range. ("Worst code" = numerically lowest code.) See how the EXAMPLE is done, below.
Respiratory Score=4 if respiratory rate is between 10 and 29.
Respiratory Score=3 if respiratory rate is 30 or above.
Respiratory Score=2 if respiratory rate is between 6 and 9.
Respiratory Score=1 if respiratory rate is between 1 and 5.
Respiratory Score=0 if respiratory rate is 0.
Systolic Blood Pressure Score=4 if systolic blood pressure is 90 or above.
Systolic Blood Pressure Score=3 if systolic blood pressure is between 76 and 89.
Systolic Blood Pressure Score=2 if systolic blood pressure is between 50 and 75.
Systolic Blood Pressure Score=1 if systolic blood pressure is between 1 and 49.
Systolic Blood Pressure Score=0 if systolic blood pressure is 0.
EXAMPLE:
Scoring when a single rate (rather than range of rates) is provided
At admission to ED, patient had a respiratory rate of 30/minute and a systolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg.
a. Respiratory rate
030
c. Systolic blood pressure
080
Determining a single rate when a range of rates is provided
At admission to ED, patient had a respiratory rate of between 8 and 12 per minute.
First step: Determine which scores within the range produce the worst code.
a. Use the respiratory rate coding equivalences (in NOTES) to determine the code equivalences for the scores within with range.
-> Within the range 8-12, the scores 8 and 9 equal code "2" (see line 3 of the coding equivalences)
-> Within the range 8-12, the scores 10, 11, and 12 equal code "4" (see line 1 of the coding equivalences)
b. Determine which of these codes is the worst code.
-> "2" is lower than "4", so "2" is the worst code.
c. Identify the score or scores that equal the worst code.
-> Scores 8 and 9 equal "2", the worst code. (If only one score equals the worst code, enter that score. Do the additional steps below only if more than one score equals the worst code.)
Second step: Having determined which scores equal the worst code, identify which one of these scores is closest to the midpoint of the range. Enter that score into the database.
a. Identify the midpoint of the range.
-> The range is 8-12, which includes 8,9,10,11,12. The midpoint score (the middle score) is 10.
b. Identify which of the scores that equal the worst code is nearest to the midpoint.
-> 8 and 9 equal the worst code. 9 is closer to 10 (the midpoint) than is 8.
c. Enter "9" into the database
print (binder format)
