Emergency care within hospitals: can it be done more efficiently?
BACKGROUND
Cardiac Arrest Teams (CATs) are frequently activated by nurses when patients experience 'false arrests' (FAs). In those cases activation of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) might be more efficient. The authors determined the level of urgency of FAs to find a scope for improvement in efficiency within emergency care.


METHODS
CAT-activations for FAs in a university hospital from September 2009 to 2012 were retrospectively analysed and classified as urgent or less-urgent.


RESULTS
In 26% (107/405) the CAT was activated for FAs. Calls were classified as urgent in 43% (46/107). Less urgent calls comprised 57% (61/107) of the FAs, difference 14% (95%CI: 1% to 26%).


CONCLUSIONS
A significant part of the CAT-activations for FAs were less urgent and an RRT-activation might be more efficient. To minimise the CAT-activations for FAs, nurses need to recognise early patients who clinically deteriorate. Therefore, nurses should use the Modified Early Warning Score correctly.
PhD Candidate, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marjon
M
Borgert
Improvement Coach, Department of Quality Assurance and Process Innovation, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Astrid
A
Goossens
Research Nurse, Department of Cardiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Rob
R
Adams
Clinical Epidemiologist, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jan
J
Binnekade
Critical Care Physician, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Dave
D
Dongelmans
D001049:Apnea; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D057209:Hospital Rapid Response Team / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055986:Vital Signs
Cardiac Arrest Team; Emergency care; False arrests; Quality improvement; Rapid Response Team