title: Implementation and outcomes of a rapid response team.
abstract: Adverse events in hospitalized patients are preceded by clinical signs of decline. Thus, early recognition and intervention should improve patient outcomes. At the University of Kentucky Hospital, the impetus to start a rapid response team (RRT) was to decrease unplanned admissions to ICU, adverse events, and mortality overall. On the basis of the outcomes at our hospital, we conclude that there is benefit to having an RRT. The following article outlines processes for RRT implementation and our outcomes to date.
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky Hospital, Department of Nursing, Rapid Response Nurse, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA. smcfa2@email.uky.edu
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: McFarlan
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hensley
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003663:Decision Trees; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014193:Trauma Centers