Why have I been coded as “At Risk of Emergency Hospital Admission” or given a Johns Hopkins ACG score?
From time to time, some patients may notice information in their medical record such as:
- Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG) System Score 10 or 11
- At Risk of Emergency Hospital Admission
These codes are added automatically as part of NHS population health and proactive care programmes. They do not mean that you are expected to be admitted to hospital, nor do they mean that there is a new diagnosis or immediate concern about your health.
What do these codes mean?
The NHS uses computer-based risk assessment tools to identify patients who may benefit from additional support, monitoring or proactive care. These tools look at information already held in your medical record, such as:
- Your age
- Existing medical conditions
- Medicines you take
- Previous use of healthcare services
The Johns Hopkins ACG system assigns a score based on the overall complexity of a person’s health needs. Higher scores generally indicate that someone has multiple long-term conditions or more complex healthcare requirements.
Why has this code been added to my record?
As part of the NHS proactive care programme, practices maintain registers of patients who may benefit from earlier intervention and support. The purpose is to help us:
- Identify patients who may need more coordinated care
- Review whether existing support is appropriate
- Offer preventive care where suitable
- Help reduce the risk of avoidable health deterioration
Being included on this register does not necessarily mean that any action is required, and many patients will not notice any change to their care.
Should I be concerned?
No. These codes are used for planning and identifying patients who may benefit from proactive healthcare support. They are not a diagnosis, they do not indicate that a hospital admission is imminent, and they do not mean there is a serious new problem with your health.
Do I need to contact the practice?
No. If we feel that any review, appointment or additional support would be beneficial, we will contact you directly. There is no need to contact the practice solely because you have seen one of these codes in your medical record.
If you have concerns about your health or are experiencing new symptoms, please contact us in the usual way.
This information has been added to help patients understand these codes and to reassure them that they are a normal part of NHS proactive care and population health management programmes.