533 Use of Clinical Frailty Score in Surgical Patients - a QIP

Abstract Aim Frailty is defined as a state of increased vulnerability to poor recovery after a stressor event. Frailty on admission influences investigations, treatment, appropriate ceilings of care, and helps with anticipating complications, and frailty at discharge determines discharge criteria planning. The clinical frailty score (CFS) is a quick way to assess frailty and has been widely validated as a good indicator of patient outcomes. The aim of this audit is to improve use of CFS on admission and discharge of surgical patients at Southend University Hospital. Method 59 consecutive general surgery patients admitted between 4th-10th September 2023 were screened for documentation of CFS on their admission clerking and discharge letters. A poster detailing how to determine the CFS was then created and distributed to surgical wards. Admission clerking and discharge letters for 32 patients were screened for documentation of CFS on admission and discharge. Results Before intervention, 0% of emergency admissions and 86% of elective admissions had CFS documented on admission. No patients (emergency or elective) had CFS documented on discharge. Post-intervention, 20% of emergency admissions and 100% of elective admissions had clinical frailty score documented on discharge. However, on admission, 100% of elective admissions and 6% of emergency admissions had clinical frailty score documented. Conclusions There was some improvement in documentation of CFS on admission and discharge, but further work would include improving awareness of CFS with teaching sessions and providing a space for this to be documented on admission clerking proformas.