The Process Guideline for Acute Change of Condition (ACOC) seeks to enable long-term care facility staff to evaluate and manage residents at the facility and avoid transfer to a hospital or emergency room (ER) by recognizing an ACOC and identifying its nature, severity, and causes.  The effective date for usage of the tool is October 4, 2004.

ACOC Process Guideline for Acute Change of Condition Memo (June 29, 2004)

ACOC Documentation Checklist: Process Guideline for Acute Change of Condition Cover Sheet

ACOC Checklist Instructions

ACOC Documentation Checklist: Process Guideline for Acute Change of Condition

Table 1: Factors Associated with Hospital Admissions from Long-Term Care Facilities

Table 3: Pre-Existing Conditions That May Predispose Patients to ACOCs

Table 10: Categories of Symptoms That May Help to Define ACOCs

Table 13: Examples of Condition Changes to Report to a Practitioner

Table 14: Framework for Reporting Changes in Vital Signs or Laboratory Values to a Practitioner

Table 17: Examples of Staff Roles and Responsibilities in Monitoring Patients with ACOCs

Table 18: Analysis of Unplanned Hospital Transfers

Table 20: Confusion Assessment Tool

Table 21: Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)