The 2003 Index of Hospital Quality

Figure 1. Examples of Secondary Diagnoses by Severity of Illness Level
Severity of Illness Level Examples of Secondary Diagnoses
Minor Benign hypertension, acute bronchitis, lumbago
Moderate Chronic renal failure, viral pneumonia, diverticulitis
Major Diabetic ketoacidosis, chronic heart failure, acute cholecystitis
Extreme
Septicemia, acute myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular
accident
C The Standard Severity of Illness Level is modified for some secondary diagnoses
based on age, APR-DRG, and presence of non-OR procedures. Figure 2 displays
an example of modifications to the standard severity of illness level based on the
APR-DRG.
Figure 2. Examples of Standard Severity of Illness Modifications
Secondary
Standard Severity of
APR-DRG Modified Severity
Diagnosis
Illness Level
of Illness Level
Stridor Moderate Bronchitis and asthma Minor
Chronic renal failure Moderate Diabetes Major
Cardiomegaly Moderate Chronic heart failure Minor
Uncomplicated
diabetes
Minor Vaginal delivery Moderate