Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

When it activates

Scribeable activates a calculator from the encounter. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) can activate when the transcript or pasted chart context documents any of these:

• Altered mental status
• Head trauma
• Intubation consideration
• Encephalopathy
• Coma/obtundation

Inputs the note needs

3 inputs. Each is resolved from the transcript, the pasted chart context and charted labs; an input marked "asks you" is requested as a clarification when it is undocumented.

Scoring

E (1-4) + V (1-5) + M (1-6) = 3-15 total

Interpretation

<=8: Consider intubation. 9-12: Moderate impairment. 13-15: Mild. Trend more important than isolated score.

Evidence

Sources carried in Scribeable's citation registry for this calculator.

• Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness: a practical scaleTeasdale & Jennett (GCS) 1974 · 1974 · link last verified 2026-03-23

How Scribeable handles it in the note

When an encounter activates the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at the mandatory tier, Scribeable resolves its inputs from the transcript, the pasted chart context and any charted labs, and asks you for a missing input you can supply before the note is finalised. Bedside-exam and separately ordered study values are not requested one input at a time; a calculator that carries a combined clarification question may still put that single question to you.

The score is computed in code from the resolved inputs, not recalled by the language model. If the draft states a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) value that disagrees with the computed one, the disagreement is flagged to the second drafting pass, which is instructed to correct the score and its interpretation before you see the note.

Classified as a risk score: activated strictly, by a documented trigger, never by a permissive reading of the encounter.

Related calculators

• FOUR Score (Full Outline of UnResponsiveness)Assesses comatose patients with greater neurological detail than GCS, including brainstem reflexes and respiration
• Canadian CT Head RuleDetermines need for CT head in patients with minor head injury (GCS 13-15) to identify clinically important brain injury
• PECARN Pediatric Head Injury Decision RuleIdentifies children at very low risk for clinically important traumatic brain injury to reduce unnecessary CT scans
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Can activate in: Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Neurology, Hospital Medicine, Critical Care / ICU.