Korean J Crit Care Med.  2017 May;32(2):124-132. 10.4266/kjccm.2017.00199.

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Rapid Response Team Activations

• Kim SW
• Lee HY
• Han MR
• Lee YS
• Kang EH
• Jang EJ
• Jeun KS
• Kim SC

• KMID: 2384037
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2017.00199

Abstract

BACKGROUND
To ensure patient safety and improvements in the quality of hospital care, rapid response teams (RRTs) have been implemented in many countries, including Korea. The goal of an RRT is early identification and response to clinical deterioration in patients. However, there are differences in RRT systems among hospitals and limited data are available.
METHODS
In Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, the St. Mary's Advanced Life Support Team was implemented in June 2013. We retrospectively reviewed the RRT activation records of 287 cases from June 2013 to December 2016.
RESULTS
The median response time and median modified early warning score were 8.6 minutes (interquartile range, 5.6 to 11.6 minutes) and 5.0 points (interquartile range, 4.0 to 7.0 points), respectively. Residents (35.8%) and nurses (59.1%) were the main activators of the RRT. Interestingly, postoperative patients account for a large percentage of the RRT activation cases (69.3%). The survival rate was 83.6% and survival was mainly associated with malignancy, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II score, and the time from admission to RRT activation. RRT activation with screening showed a better outcome compared to activation via a phone call in terms of the intensive care unit admission rate and length of hospital stay after RRT activation.
CONCLUSIONS
Malignancy was the most important factor related to survival. In addition, RRT activation with patient screening showed a better outcome compared to activation via a phone call. Further studies are needed to determine the effective screening criteria and improve the quality of the RRT system.

Keyword

medical emergency team; rapid response system; screening; survival

MeSH Terms

Epidemiology*
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Korea
Length of Stay
Mass Screening
Patient Safety
Physiology
Reaction Time
Retrospective Studies
Seoul
Survival Rate

Figure

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  Figure 1. Reasons for rapid response team activation. There are 12 activation criteria, including a direct phone call for serious concerns about overall deterioration as detected by a physician, nurse, or caregivers at the bedside. Criteria can be duplicated.

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  Figure 2. Epidemiology of rapid response team (RRT) activations. RRT activation according to (A) position, (B) department, (C) RRT activation by the specific day of the week according to the surgical status and (D) activation methods. OS: orthopedics; OBGY: obstetrics and gynecology; URO: urology; PS: plastic surgery; IM: internal medicine; NP: neuropsychiatry; ENT: otorhinolaryngology; DT: dentistry; GS: general surgery.

Reference

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