TABLE 4.

Mortality Risk Assessment Using SOFA and Time Trials^a

Color Code and Level of Access		Assessment of Mortality Risk/Organ Failureb
		Time Trial Periods
	Initial Assessment	48 h	120 h	Every 48 h
Blue No ventilator provided.c Use alternative forms of medical intervention and/or palliative care or discharge. Reassess if ventilators become available.	Exclusion criterion OR SOFA > 11	Exclusion criterion OR SOFA > 11 OR SOFA 8 – 11 and No change in SOFA score compared with the initial assessmente	Exclusion criterion OR SOFA > 11 OR  SOFA < 7 and No change in SOFA score compared with the previous assessment
Red Highest Use ventilators as available.	SOFA < 7 OR Single organ failured	SOFA < 7 and Decrease in SOFA score compared with the initial assessmentf OR SOFA < 11 and Decrease in SOFA score compared with the initial assessmentg	SOFA < 7 and Progressive decrease in SOFA score compared with the previous assessment
Yellow Intermediate Use ventilators as available.	SOFA 8 – 11	SOFA < 7 and No change in SOFA score compared with the initial assessment	SOFA < 7 and Minimal decrease in SOFA score (< 3 point decrease in previous 72 h) compared with the previous assessment	SOFA < 7 and Minimal decrease in SOFA score (< 3 point decrease in previous 48 h) compared with the previous assessment
Green Use alternative forms of medical intervention or defer or discharge. Reassess as needed.	No significant organ failure AND/OR No requirement for life-saving resources	No longer ventilator dependent / Actively weaning from ventilator

^aAdapted from Ontario Health Plan for an Influenza Pandemic guidelines.

^bIf a patient develops a condition on the exclusion criteria list at any time during a time trial, change color code to blue. Remove the patient from the ventilator and provide alternative forms of medical intervention and/or palliative care.

^cA patient assigned a blue color code is removed from the ventilator and alternative forms of medical intervention and/or palliative care are provided.

^dIntubation for control of the airway (without lung disease) is not considered lung failure.

^eThe patient remains significantly ill.

^fThese criteria apply to a patient who was placed into the red category at the initial assessment.

^gThese criteria apply to a patient who was placed into the yellow category at the initial assessment but because a ventilator was available the patient began ventilator therapy.