Over the last 20 years rapid response systems (RRSs) have been introduced in the majority of hospitals around the world. Before they existed, many patients would slowly deteriorate and of those, many would either die or have a cardiac arrest. The concept of RRSs is based on intervening early before these serious events occur. In many cases, the RRS has replaced or merged with cardiac arrest teams.

The concept is easy. RECOGNISE deteriorating patients EARLY and RESPOND to them RAPIDLY with staff who have appropriate skills. As a result, the usual medical hierarchies and rigid silos are ignored and the patient is put first, at the centre of a new way of organising health care in our hospitals.

Patients are RECOGNISED simply by abnormal vital sign readings on the chart at the end of the patient’s bed. Once signs are seriously abnormal, the bedside nurse immediately calls for skilled assistance. A bit like the cardiac arrest team but earlier. A nurse can also call for urgent assistance if he/she is CONCERNED. In some hospitals visitors can also call for urgent help if they are seriously worried about their patients.

Rapid response systems are now an integral part of hospitals around the world. In hospitals where they have been introduced, patient deaths and cardiac arrests have been reduced by approximately one-third. There are few other interventions in the hospital of hospitals that have had such a dramatic impact.

Publication

Rapid response systems.
Hillman KM
Med J Aust. 2015 Jun 1

Read offline:     

Related Articles:

	UCLA researchers develop high-sensitivity… A significant advancement for point-of-care medical diagnostics, a team of researchers from UCLA has introduced a deep learning-enhanced, paper-based vertical flow assay (VFA) capable of detecting cardiac troponin I (cTnI)…
	Sleep abnormalities in different clinical stages of… Sleep abnormalities are commonly observed in individuals with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. Research shows that over half of people with these conditions have trouble sleeping. Poor sleep also often…
	Can we accurately diagnose different clinical… Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is the second most common degenerative parkinsonian syndrome after idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. PSP is a clinically heterogeneous disorder with several clinical variants. The two most common…
	Waking a sleeping giant: How increasing Africa's… Africa is home to 1.4 billion people, of whom 55 million suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite this, Africa contributes to only 1.7% of the world’s cardiovascular science. We studied…
	The Manikin Challenge: manikin-based simulation in… Psychiatry is a nuanced specialty that relies on body language and subtle nonverbal cues from patients. As such, when using simulation to teach medical students, standardized patients are considered the…
	Improving assessment of arthritis models to better… Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disease that is characterized by swelling and tenderness of multiple joints. The resulting pain and joint stiffness cause disability for patients and treatment…