Table 1

Terminology Used for Inpatient Observation Levels Across Health Care Systems

Terminology	Source	Reference
Continuous, periodic checks, constant arm's-length, 1:1	American	33
1:1 (constant), Q 15-minute checks, Q 30-minute checks, general suicide observation	American	34
Close observation, one-on-one observation	American	26
Levels 1, 2, 3, 4	American	35
Special observation, constant observation	Australian	36
Close observation, special observation	Australian	37
Continuous observation	Canadian	38
Special supervision	English	39
Special observation (red, amber, blue, green)	English	40
General, close (intermediate), special	English	41
Constant	English	3
Special observation, maximum observation, constant observation, constant supervision	English	42
Non-routine, medium-level, high-level	English and Welsh	32
Intermittent observation, within eyesight observation, special observation	English NSH Trusts	29
Close, special, constant (CO)	English NSH Trusts	43
Close observation, special observation	Irish	5
General observation, constant observation, special observation	Scottish	4
General observation, 15-minute observation, close observation, special nursing	Scottish	44
Formal observation, continuous observation	United Kingdom	45
Specialing, one-to-one	Welsh	46