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Using a five-point “Worry Factor” scale, researchers at the Mayo Clinic studied nurses’ levels of concern for patient deterioration during 3,551 hospitalizations. They nurse concern to be a more accurate predictor of deterioration than most published early warning scores. Notably, the accuracy rates were significantly higher (79% vs. 68%) when nurses had more than one year of experience. The researchers believe their study is the first to measure the accuracy of nurses’ judgment as a predictor of inpatient deterioration. They believe the Worry Factor score could be included in electronic medical records to “clearly and succinctly communicate priority and perceived urgency.” (JAMIA Open , 8/28/19)