Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS)
Quantifies functional status on a 0-100 scale for prognosis, treatment decisions, and hospice eligibility determination
- Highest activation tier
- Recommended
- How it is scored
- Scored in code; a detected disagreeing draft value is flagged for correction
- Scoring type
- classification
- Care settings
- Inpatient, Outpatient
When it activates
Scribeable activates a calculator from the encounter. The Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) can activate when the transcript or pasted chart context documents any of these:
- Cancer prognosis assessment
- Hospice eligibility evaluation
- Performance status for treatment planning
- Functional decline monitoring
- Palliative care referral consideration
Inputs the note needs
3 inputs. Each is resolved from the transcript, the pasted chart context and charted labs; at this calculator’s tier a missing input is never requested, and a missing required input keeps the score out of the draft.
| Input | Type | Unit / options | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall functional capacity including work ability, self-care, and level of assistance needed | history | ||
| Impact of disease on daily functioning | history | ||
| Level of nursing or institutional care required | history |
Scoring
KPS 100: Normal, no complaints, no evidence of disease. KPS 90: Able to carry on normal activity, minor signs of disease. KPS 80: Normal activity with effort, some signs of disease. KPS 70: Cares for self, unable to carry on normal activity or work. KPS 60: Requires occasional assistance but cares for most personal needs. KPS 50: Requires considerable assistance and frequent medical care. KPS 40: Disabled, requires special care and assistance. KPS 30: Severely disabled, hospitalization indicated though death not imminent. KPS 20: Very sick, active supportive treatment necessary. KPS 10: Moribund, fatal processes progressing rapidly. KPS 0: Dead.
KPS % from functional capacity Overall functional capacity including work ability, self-care, and level of assistance needed, disease severity Impact of disease on daily functioning, care needs Level of nursing or institutional care required (100=normal, 70=self-care no work, 50=requires considerable assistance, 30=hospitalized, 0=dead)
Interpretation
KPS >=80: Generally tolerates aggressive therapy. KPS 50-70: Consider modified regimens, increased supportive care. KPS <50: Focus on comfort measures, hospice evaluation. KPS <=40: Hospice eligibility criterion for many non-cancer diagnoses (PPS equivalent). KPS correlates with ECOG: KPS 100=ECOG 0, KPS 80-90=ECOG 1, KPS 60-70=ECOG 2, KPS 40-50=ECOG 3, KPS 10-30=ECOG 4.
Evidence
Sources carried in Scribeable's citation registry for this calculator; guideline version: Karnofsky 1949.
- Karnofsky DA, Burchenal JH. The clinical evaluation of chemotherapeutic agents in cancerKarnofsky (KPS) 1949 · 1949 · link last verified 2026-03-28
How Scribeable handles it in the note
When an encounter activates the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) (its highest tier is recommended), Scribeable does not ask you for missing inputs. The score is computed in code from whatever inputs resolve from the transcript, the pasted chart context or charted labs; a computed value is written into the draft only when every required input already resolves.
The score is computed in code from the resolved inputs, not recalled by the language model. If the draft states a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) 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.
See it activate on your own encounter
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