A NEW TEAM - Marshall Medical Center

More documents

Recommendations

Info

A New Team by Your Side Marshall introduces Rapid Response Team to support inpatient care It’s our number #1 value as a healthcare organization: Our patients come first. What exactly does that mean One example comes in the form of a new program available to hospital patients and visitors, known as the Rapid Response Team, or RRT, for short. We sat down with Performance Improvement Manager, Donna Hayman, RN, to get the facts on this new program. FYH: In a nutshell, what is the RRT Donna: Think of it as an “ICU without walls.” The RRT includes three people at all times, regardless of shift: an Intensive Care Unit RN, an Emergency Department RN and a Respiratory Therapist. These are specially trained and qualified clinical experts who are there to quickly respond to concerning changes in a patient’s condition. They don’t take the place of the patient’s primary nurse or the patient’s doctor, but they are there to support the care. Physicians have been very supportive of the program. FYH: Why has Marshall implemented this program Donna: It’s part of a program introduced by the national organization, the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, which establishes guidelines and expectations for accredited hospitals to meet. The program is another step being taken to improve patient care. As a Joint Commission accredited hospital, Marshall adheres to all existing and new guidelines. FYH: Who would contact the RRT Donna: In October, we implemented the RRT internally, to give our clinical staff training time and some opportunity to experience how it would work. If the nurse on duty noticed a change that was concerning, and he or she wanted to consult with someone else, the RRT could be contacted and they respond within five minutes. As of January 1, patient’s and visitors may call on this team as well. All they have to do is pick up any hospital phone, call 555 and request the Rapid Response Team to that room. The team will be paged on their beepers, and they’ll be on their way. FYH: How has the program worked internally so far Donna: Very well. We have had an average of 2 calls per week so far. The majority of those occurred as anticipated, when the nurse observed changes that were concerning, and consultation with the RRT was helpful. 4 For Your Health www.marshallmedical.org
Nursing staff in Marshall’s ICU department, as well as respiratory therapists are ready to respond to Rapid Response Team calls whenever needed. FYH: What kind of changes might be observed that would lead to an RRT call Donna: Well, it’s a long list, but the top reasons include that the nurse is worried or concerned about their patient, the patient has a decrease in oxygen levels, a sudden low or high temperature, and patients reporting changes such as chest pain or severe headaches. The intent is to spot clinical changes to prevent events like cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. Studies show that subtle clinical changes frequently occur several hours before something is obviously wrong. With their special training and experience evaluating such clues, the RRT can be indispensable to improving outcomes in critically ill patients. FYH: What can the RRT do in the event that a potentially dangerous change is happening Donna: The specialists from the RRT have the ability, under specified conditions, to expedite and order certain tests right away. These tests include chest x-ray, increase in oxygen, blood tests, and others. The purpose is for certain tests to be done while the doctor is on his or her way, so the results are available when they arrive. FYH: What are the most important things you’d want patients and visitors to know about the RRT Donna: We’ve worked hard to reassure our nursing staff that just because the RRT is summoned, that doesn’t mean the nursing care is being questioned. We want to reinforce that with our patients and visitors. It’s okay to call the RRT. It doesn’t mean you don’t trust the nurse. The nurse may also want consultation and to seek another professional opinion. The RRT is here to support the best patient care, to expedite testing when needed, and to provide potentially life-saving intervention with very quick turnaround. To contact the Rapid Response Team: Call 555 from any hospital phone and say, “I need the Rapid Response Team in room#_____.” www.marshallmedical.org For Your Health 5
Page 1 and 2: For Your Health A NEW TEAM By Your
Page 3: Marshall Cardiology combines expert
Page 7 and 8: News www.marshallfound.org Excellen

A NEW TEAM - Marshall Medical Center

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?