Going south
Formal Definition
A patient whose clinical status is deteriorating, often rapidly.
How It's Used on the Ward
"The patient in 412 is going south" — expect a rapid response or escalation soon.
Example
""Intern at 2am: 'Hey, the patient in 12B is going south — BP dropped to 80/50, HR up to 130, and she's not responding to my questions.' Resident: 'Call rapid response now, I'm on my way.'""
Clinical Context
When someone says a patient is "going south," it's a signal to drop what you're doing and respond. The phrase implies urgency and trajectory, not just a single abnormal value.
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