The number of days the PATIENT received High Dependency Care within an AUGMENTED CARE PERIOD.

A PATIENT may move between Intensive and High Dependency Care in an AUGMENTED CARE PERIOD. The total number of days the PATIENT received High Dependency Care in the AUGMENTED CARE PERIOD is recorded.

High Dependency Care is delivered in one or more of the following circumstances at an AUGMENTED CARE LOCATIONS

a.	Single organ system monitoring and support but excluding advanced respiratory system support
b.	General observation and monitoring: More detailed observation and the use of monitoring equipment that cannot safely by provided on a general ward. This may include extended post-operative monitoring for high risk patients
c.	Step-down care: Patients who no longer need intensive care but who are not well enough to be returned to a general ward

The minimum period for assessment is one calendar day. The highest level of care provided within the day dictates whether the day adds to the High Dependency or Intensive Care level total.

Periods of less than 24 hours are recorded as one day. Therefore, if the PATIENT received five hours of High Dependency Care, one day is recorded.

References:
Table 3, Report of the Working Group on Guidelines on admission to and discharge from Intensive Care and High Dependency Units, DH, March 1996. 

This attribute is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	HIGH DEPENDENCY CARE LEVEL DAYS