I am starting a new thread as I would like to know if you have a similar system in the USA?
In some hospitals throughout Australia we have a system that if a patient falls out of parameters ie their condition deteriorates. Then we can call a M.E.R.T - medical emergency response team. The team - generally comes from ICU is sent to assess the patient and if need be transfered either back to ICU or CCU depending on the outcome of their condition. Rather than wait until the person has collapsed or is not breathing for a Code Blue.
This system has been invaluable and has saved many lives.
Our met team has an ICU nurse (who typically only takes one step down pt, so that she can answer calls), an RT, a lab tech, an ER nurse, and the nursing supervisor. If a hospitalist in the building, he will answer as well. The Code Blue team adds the pharmacist, an IV therapist (if she's in the house) and the ED physician.
If we call a MET we have several protocols in place--we can order certain labwork, certain radiological studies, and other tests or procedures, like and EKG or a breathing treatment.
Since we implemented the MET response, we have gone from averaging 5 codes a month hospital wide (our average hospital census is between 80-110) to averaging 1 code a month. The MET response has definitely saved lives in our hospital.
Every hospital in the US will have to develop a rapid response team if they don't all ready have one as it either is now or soon will be a JACOH requirement. Our RRT is actually staffed independently. By this I mean we have a separate job description for a "Rapid Response RN" and that is all they do when on shift. Oh they might occasionally throw an IV in now and again but their primary responsibility is responding as a member of the RRT. They have their own office where they hang out and have developed their own protocols. Mind you I work in a HUGE university hospital system with 4 separate hospitals (Heart, Cancer, General, and Rehab) on the same campus. These nurses do not respond to codes or traumas only medical alerts within the system. As large as the area is they must be wearing roller-blades!!!
queenjean
951 Posts
Our met team has an ICU nurse (who typically only takes one step down pt, so that she can answer calls), an RT, a lab tech, an ER nurse, and the nursing supervisor. If a hospitalist in the building, he will answer as well. The Code Blue team adds the pharmacist, an IV therapist (if she's in the house) and the ED physician.
If we call a MET we have several protocols in place--we can order certain labwork, certain radiological studies, and other tests or procedures, like and EKG or a breathing treatment.
Since we implemented the MET response, we have gone from averaging 5 codes a month hospital wide (our average hospital census is between 80-110) to averaging 1 code a month. The MET response has definitely saved lives in our hospital.