The Effects of a Rapid Response Team on Clinical Outcomes

Vol. 3 No. 3

Year: 2013

Issue: Aug-Oct

Title : The Effects of a Rapid Response Team on Clinical Outcomes

Author Name : Milton Evans

Synopsis :

One of the most startling US healthcare statistics is that somewhere between 44,000 and 98,000 hospital in-patient deaths each year are considered to be the result of medical error or oversight and thus, are arguably avoidable mortalities (Byrne, Delarose, et al. 2007). The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a Rapid Response Team (RRT) implementation on rates of patient mortality, in-hospital cardiac arrests, ICU admissions, length of patient stay, code calls, and overall cost-effectiveness of a 300 bed, non-metropolitan hospital. The discharge rate was significantly higher post RRT, the mortality rate was significantly lower post RRT, and the number of deaths were significantly lower post RRT. The data also demonstrated that for each unit of RRT implementation, patient stay increased by 0.43 days and an average increase of 23 dollars of hospital cost per patient, per day. The evidence that the RRT implementation and integration had a significant impact on death, mortality rate, and discharge from the hospital is a potential argument in favor of RRT implementation.

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