title: Evolution of a rapid response system from voluntary to mandatory activation.
abstract: A policy requiring rapid response activation for all patients who met physiologic instability criteria, which was initiated four years after the rapid response system's inception, significantly increased the number of rapid response calls and was associated with a reduction in cardiorespiratory arrests outside of critical care areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. cmjones@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bleyer
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petree
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000592:standards; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D057209:Hospital Rapid Response Team / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009657:North Carolina; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards