Code Status Orders: Do the Options Matter?

Code status orders in hospitalized patients guide urgent medical decisions. Inconsistent terminology and treatment options contribute to varied interpretations. To compare two code status order options, traditional (three option) and modified to include additional care options (four option). Prospective, randomized, cross-sectional survey conducted on February–March 2020. Participants were provided with six clinical scenarios and randomly assigned to the three or four option code status order. In three scenarios, participants determined the most appropriate code status. Three scenarios provided clinical details and code status and respondents were asked whether they would provide a particular intervention. This study was conducted at three urban, academic hospitals. Clinicians who routinely utilize code status orders. Of 4006 participants eligible, 549 (14