Modified early warning system scoring and critical care readmission

Modified early warning systems (MEWS) have been developed in an attempt to address suboptimal patient management prior to critical care admission [1]. The use of MEWS scoring as a predictor of critical care readmission has not been described previously.

We have reviewed MEWS scores from all critical care discharges, from a 17-bed mixed medical/surgical critical care unit in a university teaching hospital, assessed by our outreach service from November 2004 to June 2005. Two hundred and thirty-eight patients were reviewed, with MEWS scoring being performed routinely at critical care discharge and at outreach review 24 hours later.

MEWS scoring at critical care discharge does not predict critical care readmission. MEWS scoring by the Critical Care Outreach Team 24 hours after discharge, however, appears to predict the need for critical care readmission.