ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) in intermediate care units. A number of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) could be hospitalized in alternative structures, intermediate care units, which are equipped to handle their monitoring needs and able to provide adequate treatment at a lower cost. Characterization of the patients relies on the assessment of their severity of illness by severity scores. The efficiency of severity scores has been established in ICU patients, but not in the setting of intermediate care units.DesignProspective study.SettingIntermediate care unit of a multidisciplinary hospital.PatientsFour hundred thirty-three patients admitted to the intermediate care unit.InterventionsNone.Measurements and Main Results0.5). The discriminant power of SAPS II, measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was excellent (0.85 +/- 0.04).ConclusionsThe SAPS II assessment of severity of illness in patients admitted to an intermediate care unit is reliable. These results will need to be confirmed, using different patient samplings from intermediate care units. (Crit Care Med 1998; 26:1368-1371)