Criteria for Declaring Crisis Standards of Care: A Single, Uniform Model

Following previously established professional and organizational precepts, the authors developed criteria and associated threshold triggers that allow recognition and, thus, declaration of Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) in an acute care health institution. They specify a clear set of criteria indicating a state of crisis within which routine Standards of Care cannot be maintained. The authors also describe suggested methods to declare and appropriately terminate CSC status. As with all evidence-based science, they anticipate the protocol offered here will continue to evolve. However, the templated offering in this report has been successfully used and allows standardization and uniformity of approach in all acute care hospital settings within a region or state.