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Sunday, November 1, 2009
Learning Objective 1: discuss the rationale for creating a Rapid Response team in an inpatient setting
Learning Objective 2: understand and discuss the positives outcomes when a Rapid Response team is utilized.
Background: To determine the effect of a Rapid Response Team (RRT) on cardiopulmonary arrest outside critical care areas.
Methods: A retrospective, before and after study was conducted at a non-teaching, not-for-profit, private hospital. All adult patients admitted to the hospital from September 2002 to August 2007 who experienced a RRT intervention or cardiopulmonary arrest were included. The RRT is comprised of two critical care nurses and a respiratory therapist. A one-year grace period, August 2004-September 2005, was allowed for proper implementation and education.
Results: The incidence of cardiopulmonary arrests and the subsequent mortality rates occurring outside critical care areas over the study period were measured. There were 446 RRT activations during the 24-month period. In the 24 months before the RRT began, the mean number of codes was 4.91 (SD 1.95) as compared to 3.87 (SD 2.01) after RRT implementation. Fifty-nine percent of patients who received RRT intervention stayed in their room while 41% transferred to a higher level care. Prior to RRT intervention, the mortality among patients experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest was 46% as compared to 65% in the post intervention phase.
Conclusions: The RRT was associated with a statistically significant decrease in rates of cardiopulmonary arrest outside critical areas (p = 0.04).
Methods: A retrospective, before and after study was conducted at a non-teaching, not-for-profit, private hospital. All adult patients admitted to the hospital from September 2002 to August 2007 who experienced a RRT intervention or cardiopulmonary arrest were included. The RRT is comprised of two critical care nurses and a respiratory therapist. A one-year grace period, August 2004-September 2005, was allowed for proper implementation and education.
Results: The incidence of cardiopulmonary arrests and the subsequent mortality rates occurring outside critical care areas over the study period were measured. There were 446 RRT activations during the 24-month period. In the 24 months before the RRT began, the mean number of codes was 4.91 (SD 1.95) as compared to 3.87 (SD 2.01) after RRT implementation. Fifty-nine percent of patients who received RRT intervention stayed in their room while 41% transferred to a higher level care. Prior to RRT intervention, the mortality among patients experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest was 46% as compared to 65% in the post intervention phase.
Conclusions: The RRT was associated with a statistically significant decrease in rates of cardiopulmonary arrest outside critical areas (p = 0.04).