A method for providing an early warning system for a patient includes: allowing a caregiver to select among a plurality of early warning score protocols allowing the caregiver to modify the selected early warning score protocol automatically calculating an early warning score for the patient and displaying the early warning score for the caregiver. A medical device includes at least one health care equipment module configured to measure a physiological parameter of a patient. The medical device is configured to allow the caregiver to select among a plurality of early warning score protocols. The early warning score protocols may be targeted to specific patients based on demographic information. The medical device also allows the caregiver to modify the selected early warning score protocol. The medical device also automatically calculates an early warning score for the patient using a physiological parameter captured by the at least one health care equipment module.
