title: How to keep score of acuity and dependency.
abstract: This article describes how the introduction of an acuity and dependency tool at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has provided nurses with a structure for gathering evidence about patient care levels, and discusses how this information is shared throughout the trust to improve patient outcomes and safety.
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Val
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Ann-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cannaby
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radford
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration; D015401:Nursing Administration Research / Q000379:methods*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index