Is any particular group at an increased risk for ACOCs?
Newly admitted patients are at considerable risk for ACOCs, especially if they have had a recent hospitalization, acute illness, or other event that has disrupted their stability. It is important that caregivers identify risks for acute condition changes upon or soon after admission or readmission, or after an acute illness or significant condition change. A problem list may be used to define the patient’s pre-existing conditions, identify their causes, and identify symptoms (e.g., dizziness, increasing confusion) that may represent risk factors for an ACOC. Keep in mind that patients come from different situations and settings (e.g., home, hospital) and have acute and chronic conditions of varying severity. The primary reason for a patient’s admission to a long-term care facility often does not adequately reflect the patient’s overall condition and may be just the “tip of the iceberg.” Often, significant underlying conditions and risks are not identified or managed fully before the pa
