Once your Rapid Response Teams has been designed, a pilot test is useful to identify any oversights in planning and to review the overall function of the team. During the prelude to the rapid response team trial, attempt to create an environment of interest by encouraging conversations regarding ‘rescuing’ patients before a code situation ensues.
A three-day trial will generally be sufficient to gather enough information to establish the value of the program and to learn how to make improvements. One further value of a trial period is to utilize the time to present results to key players in the process and solidify hospital-wide acceptance. These key players might include the ward and ICU nursing staff, respiratory therapy, and physician intensivists.
Involved parties will want to know certain information before the trial period begins. It is helpful to get education strategies up and running on all shifts before the test period starts. In addition posting a frequently asked question (FAQ) sheet will allow staff to refer to this document to obtain answers to the most commonly asked questions. Some considerations for a FAQ include the following:
When do you call a Rapid Response Team?
- The patient has a significant change in vital signs or LOC
- The patient has no/inadequate response to interventions
- You feel uncomfortable with the situation
What will the Rapid Response Team want to know?
- What is happening with the patient
- How they can assist
What are the expectations when the Rapid Response Team is used?
- They are consultants
- They will assist with assessment and management of the patient
- The floor staff will retain responsibility for:
- Calling the physician
- Medications and interventions unless they require specialized skills
- Documentation
- Floor staff and the Rapid Response Team will negotiate division of the work to be done
- Teaching will occur:
- Assessment and critical thinking
- Physiology and interventions
- Assertiveness and interpersonal skills
- Policies and procedures
What are the goals of the Rapid Response Team program?
- The patient will improve
- A patient transfer will be avoided
- Skills of floor staff will be improved
- Collegiality between departments will be improved
How will we know if this program is successful?
- Decreased codes
- Decreased ICU admissions from the floors
- Decreased patient deaths
Who is on the Rapid Response Team?
Some key information should be obtained during the three-day pilot such as average response time, average time spent with each patient, the condition of the patient, the interventions taken by the rapid response team. Tailoring some of the documents in the tools section to your needs will help you to collect essential information. Once the trial is complete, all charts should be reviewed with the rapid response team staff. The results of the review should be presented to Administration and the medical staff.
