RAPID RESPONSE CONTINUES TO SAVE LIVES

Purpose:
Rapid Response was introduced to provide an escalation tool hospital wide and prevent a failure to rescue of our patients. We wanted to decrease our emergency situations by bringing critical care to the bedside. We want to support nurses learning by alleviated fear of emergent situations.

Significance:
Patients die every day in hospitals for a multitude of reasons. Our program was established to provide an escalation tool for nurses who just knew something was wrong with their patients. The feedback to date has been overwhelmingly positive for the support nursing feels in providing patient care.

Strategy and Implementation:
We began the process on one unit and utilized the information to improve the operations. We then moved the process to one division then to different divisions as we went housewide. Our data showed us things we did not anticipate. We developed the Sepsis response team as a result of data gleaned on patients being rapid responded within 24 hours of admission and being positive for severe sepsis. We have made significant strides in improving admission screening and our mortality rates from sepsis.

Evaluation:
We are continuing to track and trend our emergency calls for codes. We are also showing much improvement in patient outcomes when a rapid response is called prior to a code. Positive staff feedback on support for patient emergencies.

Implications for Practice:
Improved patient outcomes. Improved nursing satisfaction. Requires ICU nurses to practice outside the ICU but brings expertise necessary to the patient instead of the patient to the expertise.