Rapid Response Teams

The concept of improving patient outcomes through the use of early warning systems most likely originated in 1999, when Goldhill et al. identified physiological parameters that manifested in patients prior to the need for admission to intensive care units (ICUs). This concept gained support when others also noted that the early identification and correction of abnormal physiology may not only improve outcome but may also avoid morbidity altogether. Rapid response teams (RRTs) were highlighted in 2004 when the Institute of Health Care Improvement championed the “Save 100, 000 Lives” campaign and listed RRTs as one of the six initiatives for improving quality of patient care. A core goal for an intervention by an RRT is that the program promptly brings individuals with critical care or advanced skills to the bedside. In order to be effective, the RRT should be activated shortly after a trigger is identified, and longer lag times are associated with higher mortality.