Rapid Assessment Teams

Hello Everyone....

Does anyone use RAT teams at their respective facilities to prevent arrests? That seems to be all the rage with adult hospitals but I wondered if that is also the trend for pediatric hospitals as well. The team is usually composed of the ICU charge RN and a ICU resident/intern. Any RN in the hospital can call up to the ICU to ask for the team. No MD order is necessary. The team comes down to assess the patient to see if an ICU transfer is necessary and also to begin interventions. The number of arrests have decreased dramatically out on the wards following the implementation of this team.