Objective: Rapid Response Team (RRT) was assembled in our hospital in 2016. We looked at the early dynamics and features of
the rapid response team in the population of patients admitted through the emergency department (ED) in our tertiary care hospital. The main purpose of initiating RRT is to enhance the timely intervention, stabilization and to avoid clinical worsening of the patient prior to cardiopulmonary arrest or other life-threatening events.
Methods:
Retrospective chart review was done, and the rapid response team register was utilized to gather the data regarding each
RRT. Admissions from ED between Jan 29, 2016, to Sep 29th, 2016 were considered for the study. The total study period was 8
months. The RRT data was also taken from the Management Information System (MIS) of the hospital, and the switchboard
communication system.
Setting: Inpatient wards at Shifa International hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Results: Out of four thousand six hundred and sixty seven enrolled patients, calls for RRT were generated one hundred and twenty-two times throughout the study period of 8-months. The age of patients ranged from 18-92 years. The initiator of the RRT was a nurse in 30% of cases while doctors initiated the RRT in 70% of cases. Low blood pressure was one of the most common reasons for calling RRT. Fifty-one percent of patients were treated on the floor after the RRT while 49% were moved to ICU.
Conclusion: Rapid response team is steadily being utilized in the management of acute deterioration in patients. Nursing needs to be empowered and educated to make the RRT initiative a success. Further studies are required to determine if there is
a mortality benefit or decreased incidence of in-hospital cardiac arrests in randomized control trials in Pakistan.
Key words: Rapid response team, Code Blue, Emergency Nursing
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