====== 🧾 Clinical Criteria ======

**Clinical criteria** are predefined clinical signs, symptoms, or measurements used to support diagnosis, guide treatment decisions, or determine inclusion/exclusion in a protocol or study.

===== 📌 Key Characteristics =====
  * Based on **observable or measurable clinical findings**
  * Often established by **guidelines**, **consensus panels**, or **evidence-based protocols**
  * Can include:
    * Vital signs (e.g., GCS, blood pressure, temperature)
    * Symptoms (e.g., headache, focal deficit, confusion)
    * Physical findings (e.g., pupillary response, neck stiffness)
    * Laboratory thresholds (e.g., INR > 1.5)

===== 💡 Example Use Cases =====
  * Defining **mild traumatic brain injury**: GCS 13–15, no focal deficits, no altered consciousness >30 min
  * Determining eligibility for **surgical intervention**
  * Classifying **stroke severity** or **sepsis risk**

===== ✅ Best Practice =====
  * Use validated criteria when available (e.g., NIHSS for stroke, SIRS for sepsis)
  * Document clearly in clinical notes when criteria are met or not
  * Reassess frequently if dynamic