Rapid Response Team

What is a Rapid Response Team?

A Rapid Response Team or RRT, is a working team of clinicians who bring critical care expertise to patients and staff during a time of crisis or need The team responds emergently to potential patient deterioration or crisis throughout Lake Regional Health System

What is the Role of the RRT?

Assess Stabilize Assist with communication Educate and support Assist with transfer to area of higher level of care, if necessary

Purpose of the RRT

To provide early intervention in order to promote better outcomes such as:  Reduce cardiac and/or respiratory arrests with in the hospital  Reduce or assist more timely transfers to the ICU  Reduce patient intubations  Reduce the number of hospital deaths outside of the ICU

Why does LRHS need a RRT?

People die unnecessarily every single day in hospitals across the nation.

Several studies indicate that patients often exhibit signs and symptoms of physiological instability for some period of time prior to a cardiac arrest.

70% of patients show evidence of respiratory deterioration 8 hours prior to arrest.

66% of patient show abnormal signs and symptoms within 6 hours of arrest

What difference can a RRT make?

Reduction in non-ICU arrests Reduction in deaths from cardiac arrest Decrease the number of days in ICU post arrest Decrease the number of days in the hospital post arrest Reduction in post-operative emergency ICU transfers Reduction in arrest prior to ICU transfer

Criteria for calling RRT

Staff member is worried about the patient Acute change in heart rate <40 or >130 bpm and symptomatic Acute change in systolic blood pressure <90 or >200 mmHg and symptomatic Acute change in respiratory rate <8 or >28 per min with signs decompensation Acute change in saturation <90% despite O2 Acute change in conscious state Acute change in urinary output to <50 ml in 4 hours Acute or uncontrollable bleeding

Criteria for calling RRT

Uncontrollable pain, despite treatment Acute confusion or mental status changes New or prolonged seizures unresolved with treatment Chest pain or pressure unresolved with treatment / NTG Dysrhythmias Uncontrollable temperature/fever despite treatment Blood transfusion reaction with deterioration Uncontrollable agitation

How is the RRT activated?

The RRT can easily be activated by calling 3381 Your call will promptly be answered by a critical care RN Simply provide the patients room number or current location and a brief summery of the patients condition

Special considerations when activating RRT

When activating the RRT for a pediatric patient please clarify with the rapid response team member that your call is for a pediatric intervention!

Activating the RRT

Once the RRT has been deployed the following items need to be available upon arrival:      Patients chart Patients nurse Patients most recent vital signs Medication administration record Previous assessment

Activation of the RRT

The person who calls the RRT is a key member of the team The RRT is not there to take over and assume care of the patient; the role of the team is to bring critical care expertise to the bedside Calling expectations- call even if you are unsure. (“If you are worried, so are we.”)

Expectations of the RRT

You can expect the RRT to arrive in a timely manner (with in 5 to 10 min).

You can expect the RRT members to be professional and friendly.

You can expect the RRT to provide non judgmental, non-punitive feedback to the person that initiated the call; providing a learning opportunity for the caregiver.

Success of the RRT

The RRT is about coordinating & delivering the right LEVEL of care for the patient at the right time.

The success of the RRT depends on everyone. Your feedback is important to. Please contact the ICU Education Department for any question, concerns or feedback that you have to offer.

Please call Elizabeth at ext 2243. I look forward to sharing your RRT stories with all of the medical staff.

Elizabeth Evans, RN ICU Education Coordinator Lake Regional Health Systems [email protected]

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