Document Detail


A reduction in cardiac arrests and duration of clinical instability after implementation of a paediatric rapid response system.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19955465     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a multifaceted paediatric rapid response system on the duration of predefined clinical instability and the subsequent rate of cardiac arrests.
METHODS: An interrupted time series study coupled with a retrospective chart review to evaluate the effects of implementing a four component paediatric rapid response system. All patients in a 136-bed university-affiliated paediatric hospital from August 2003 to May 2007 were considered. The main outcome measures included rate of cardiac arrests as indicated by the number of patient days between ward paediatric cardiac arrests and duration of predefined clinical instability before evaluation by critical care personnel.
RESULTS: The mean time interval between cardiac arrests increased significantly with the establishment of the rapid response system from a baseline of 2512 to 9418 patient days. The median duration of clinical instability decreased from 9 h 55 min to 4 h 15 min post intervention (p = 0.028).
CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a paediatric rapid response system is associated with a significant reduction in the rate of cardiac arrests and duration of clinical instability before evaluation by critical care personnel. This study provides evidence that implementation of a rapid response system brings emergency personnel to deteriorating patients earlier, thus preventing cardiac arrests.
Authors:
C C Hanson; G D Randolph; J A Erickson; C M Mayer; J T Bruckel; B D Harris; T S Willis
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Quality & safety in health care     Volume:  18     ISSN:  1475-3901     ISO Abbreviation:  Qual Saf Health Care     Publication Date:  2009 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-12-03     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101136980     Medline TA:  Qual Saf Health Care     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  500-4     Citation Subset:  H    
Affiliation:
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of North Carolina, 214 MacNider Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7221, USA.
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