✅ Reviewed for accuracy and relevance by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM on June 26, 2025.
Related CCMC Glossary of Terms
Acuity: Complexity and severity of the patient’s health/medical condition.
Severity of Illness: An acuity of illness criteria that identifies the presence of significant/debilitating symptoms, deviations from the patient’s normal values, or unstable/abnormal vital signs or laboratory findings.
Severity of Illness: An acuity of illness criteria that identifies the presence of significant/debilitating symptoms, deviations from the patient’s normal values, or unstable/abnormal vital signs or laboratory findings.
The severity of the patient’s illness is only one factor in evaluating the acuity level of the patient. Other factors that may be taken into account include:
- comorbid conditions
- complex medical needs
- family/social support
- polypharmacy
- psychological/cognitive status
- complex treatment plans
- number of providers involved
This article shares a portion of the information covered on this topic in CCM Certification Made Easy, 4th Edition by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM (2025). For more details on this topic and related concepts, purchase your copy at CCMCertificationMadeEasy.com.
