Salamonson Y, Kariyawasam A, van Heere B, O'Connor C. The evolutionary process of medical emergency team (MET) implementation: Reduction in unanticipated ICU transfers. Resuscitation. May 2001;49(2):135-141.

This article describes a study to determine whether the introduction of the Medical Emergency Team (MET) system designed to provide immediate help for seriously ill patients: 1) changed the pattern of ICU patient transfers from the wards; and 2) improved hospital survival rates.

Saklayen M, Liss H, Markert R. In-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Survival in 1 hospital and literature review. Medicine. Jul 1995;74(4):163-175.

This article describes a study that observed  the CPR records at one hospital during a two-year period and the results from 113 published reports of inpatient CPR with a total patient population of 26,095. The authors compared the survival rates of patients following CPR and the pre-arrest and intra-arrest factors related to survival.

Parr MJ, Hadfield JH, Flabouris A, Bishop G, Hillman K. The medical emergency team: 12 month analysis of reasons for activation, immediate outcome and not-for-resuscitation orders. Resuscitation. Jul 2001;50(1):39-44.

This article describes a study which attempted to describe the reasons for, and immediate outcome following Medical Emergency Team (MET) activation. The three most common criteria for calling the MET were a fall in Glasgow Coma Scale >2, systolic blood pressure <90mmHg, respiratory rate >35.  A high proportion of patients required admission to intensive care. Patients for whom a NFR order should be considered were identified.

Buist MD, Moore GE, Bernard SA, Waxman BP, Anderson JN, Nguyen TV. Effects of a medical emergency team on reduction of incidence of and mortality from unexpected cardiac arrests in hospital: Preliminary study. British Medical Journal. Feb 2002;324(7334):387-390.

This article describes a study whose objective was to determine whether earlier clinical intervention by a medical emergency team prompted by clinical instability in a patient could reduce the incidence of and mortality from unexpected cardiac arrest in hospitals.

Bristow PJ, Hillman KM, Chey T, et al. Rates of in-hospital arrests, deaths and intensive care admissions: The effect of a medical emergency team. Medical Journal of Australia. Sep 2000;173(5):236-240.

This article describes an Australian study which attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of a medical emergency team (MET) in reducing the rates of selected adverse events.

Schein RM, Hazday N, Pena M, Ruben BH, Sprung CL. Clinical antecedents to in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. Chest. Dec 1990;98(6):1388-1392.

The authors of this article studied a group of consecutive general hospital ward patients developing cardiopulmonary arrest. Prospectively determined definitions of underlying pathophysiology, severity of underlying disease, patient complaints, and clinical observations were used to determine common clinical features.

Franklin C, Mathew J. Developing strategies to prevent inhospital cardiac arrest: Analyzing responses of physicians and nurses in the hours before the event. Critical Care Medicine. 1994;22(2):244-247.

This article describes a study which attempted to determine: a) the frequency of premonitory signs and symptoms before cardiac arrest in patients on the general medical wards of a hospital; b) any characteristic patterns in nurse and physician responses to these signs and symptoms; and c) whether cardiac arrests on the ward occur more frequently in patients discharged from the medical intensive care unit (ICU) than in other patients.

Kerridge RK, Saul WP. The medical emergency team, evidence-based medicine and ethics. Medical Journal of Australia. Sep 2003;179(6):313-315.

This article suggests that the quest for evidence is providing scientific justification for institutional inertia, and that further delay in implementing Medical Emergency Team (MET) systems may even be viewed as unethical.

Tablan O, Anderson L, Besser R, Bridges C, Hajjeh R. Guidelines for preventing health care-associated pneumonia, 2003: Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report [Serial online]. March 26, 2004;53(RROS):1-36.

This report updates, expands, and replaces the previously published Centers for Disease Control (CDC) "Guideline for Prevention of Nosocomial Pneumonia". The new guidelines are designed to reduce the incidence of pneumonia and other severe, acute lower respiratory tract infections in acute care hospitals and in other health care settings (e.g., ambulatory and long-term care institutions) and other facilities where health care is provided.

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Vincent C, Neale G, Woloshynowych M. Adverse events in British hospitals: Preliminary retrospective record review. British Medical Journal. 3 Mar 2001;322(7285):517-519.

Examines the feasibility of detecting adverse events through record review in British hospitals and to make preliminary estimates of the incidence and costs of adverse events.

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