At baseline
Formal Definition
A description indicating a patient's current functional, cognitive, or clinical status is equivalent to their known pre-morbid or chronic state, without acute deviation.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Back to baseline" or "at her baseline" — critical for distinguishing acute changes from chronic conditions in frail or elderly patients.
Example
""92-year-old with dementia: family reports confusion is at her baseline — she doesn't know where she is at home either. No acute change. Ruled out delirium; this is chronic baseline AMS.""
Clinical Context
Establishing baseline is essential in elderly patients — delirium is an acute change FROM baseline, not just any confusion. Always ask family: "Is this new or how she always is?" A patient's baseline guides every clinical decision. If you don't know the baseline, you can't define deterioration.
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