Use of prognostic scoring and outcome assessment tools in the admission decision for community-acquired pneumonia

Prognostic scoring and outcome assessment tools are being developed to prov ide decision support regarding hospitalization in community-acquired pneumo nia. The tools define the risk of mortality and other adverse outcomes usin g variables available when patients are first seen. Comparison of the speci fic logic in different tools demonstrates more similarities than difference s. Early data suggest that these tools may help physicians safely decrease the rate of admission to the hospital.