Rapid Response Team and Families

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Our Rapid Response Team (RRT) is about one year old. It has been a success. The nurses on the med surg units have appreciated the assist.

Part of the JACHO requirements for the Rapid Response Team is to involve the pt/families, allowing them to call the RRT themselves. icon5.gif Has anyone started this aspect of the team function?

I don't want this to be a taddling on their nurse or underminding the pt's nurse. I want it to be part of the pt's orientation to the room/unit. Given positively and part of encouraging the pt's participation in their care. Ex: do your I.S. DB/C and call the RRT if you feel like you are in a crisis and your nurse hasn't been able to help. Talk with your nurse first.

We have the Joint Commission "Speak Up" posters everywhere and it would play into that theme.

Do you have a family handout?

Who receives the call from the pt/family? The team itself? A "screener" like the nursing supervisor - to screen out irritation calls? (no one is answering the call bell fast enough).

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Our hospital started this and it has been going really well. We as nurses were all worried it would be a problem. We were worried the families would use it if there call light wasn't answered quick enough (and as one of the rapid responders I was especially worried). We have had no issues with this though, the only times the families have called it was legit. Our families took it very seriously almost like calling 911.

Hope that helps

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We've had a RRT also for +/- 1 year. We do not involve the pt or family member in our process. Some of the criteria that meet a RR is: sustained O2 sats

What type of RR's do you respond to?

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

I work at a facility that has this in place we call it a condition H. We have operators trained to ask proper questions like a paramedic 911 operator. There is a number families can call if they feel their family member is not getting the acute care they need. Respiratory distress or decreased level of consciousness are good examples.

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