What's new with rapid response systems?

The term rapid response system (RRS) describes a hospital-wide approach to (a) improve the detection of deteriorating patients and (b) provide a responding team who commence treatment aimed at preventing serious adverse events including cardiac arrest and unexpected death [1]. Ward staff are alerted to clinical deterioration when patients fulfil predefined criteria based on vital sign derangement and other important changes in the patient?s clinical status (Table 1). Rapid response team (RRT) staff have the required skills and knowledge to assess and manage critically ill patients. As such, they are often based in the intensive care unit (ICU). An essential underlying tenant of the RRS model is that early intervention in the course of deterioration improves patient outcome [1].