Australia National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition 8.04-8.05: Clinicians document individualised vital sign monitoring plans, monitor patients accordingly and graphically track observations to detect physiological deterioration; and for deterioration in mental state they monitor at-risk patients including for delirium, record known early warning signs, assess causes when changes are observed or reported, determine observation levels, and document and communicate changes

To catch physiological deterioration, clinicians must write an individual plan for which vital signs to watch and how often, follow it, and chart agreed observations graphically so trends show. To catch deterioration in mental state they must watch at-risk patients including those at risk of delirium, record each person's known early warning signs in the monitoring plan, look for causes including delirium when behaviour, thinking, perception, physical function or mood changes or is reported, decide the level of observation needed, and record and pass on any change.