Prnewsnow Reach the World NOW

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

At the 3rd International Conference on Rapid Response Systems a new...



Can hospitals deaths be prevented Today during the wrap up of the 3rd International Conference on Rapid Response Systems (RRS), U.S. experts and medical professionals from other nations reported that many hospital deaths are preventable. In the U.S. nearly 100,000 people died last year of hospital infections acquired during the hospital stay. RRS conference course director Michael DeVita, MD, is a strong proponent of integrating RRS as an improvement to hospital quality and care. DeVita is also the Professor of Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, and Associate Medical Director at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside Hospital, part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).



The two-day conference (www.metconference.com) included physicians, nurses, hospital administrators and healthcare professionals from the U.S, Europe, Australia and Canada.

Rapid Response System Conference Highlights:



On Monday, May 7, several clinical studies were presented as medical posters. An evaluation team at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center led by Marilyn Hravnak RN, PhD, evaluated 333 patients on a step-down unit to see if an integrated monitoring system index value could detect clinically significant events that might trigger the Medical Emergency Treatment (MET) Team into action earlier in order to avert a crisis. They reviewed 333 patient admissions representing 18,692 continuous hours of monitoring using an electronic integrated monitoring system (BioSign's8482;). This technology provides a read-out of monitored vital signs, fusing that data into a BioSign Index (BSI or numerical score; the higher the number the sicker the patient). The index reflects the patient'ss vitals (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and peripheral oxygen saturation). Most of the patients evaluated were stable during their hospital stay. MET team activation occurred on 10 occasions, and of this number, seven MET events involved respiratory and/or cardiac causes that were detected by the BioSign Index in advance. (The mean advance detection time prior to MET activation was 6.33 hours.) They concluded that the integrated monitoring system index elevations would have alerted the nursing staff in advance of a clinically significant event.



Approximately 3,000 hospitals nationwide have some form of RRS. Lisbeth Votruba, RN, MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist from Saint Mary'ss Heath Care in Grand Rapids, MI, presented case studies illustrating how the BioSign Index helps physicians and nurses recognize deterioration of a patient condition in advance of a crisis. In one case, a patient developed sepsis and upon post-crisis evaluation, the staff determined the BioSign Index had detected the deteriorating condition prior to the diagnosis of sepsis. In the second case, hospital caregivers were responsive to the BioSign data providing timely intervention of a post-operative infection, precluding an ICU admission.



Dr. DeVita noted that Rapid Response Systems, also known as MET in some hospitals, are effectively changing how hospitals are operating. We prefer to talk about the Rapid Response System, and not just the team. It is too easy to presume that a few people running around is all you need. Experts have pointed to four elements of success: 1) event detection and response triggers that incorporate new technology and procedures to prevent crisis; 2) response teams trained in the system of rapid response; 3) implementation of a post-crisis review following each event; and 4) administrative efforts to oversee the system and provide resources.



During the opening session of the conference, Dr. DeVita spoke about transitioning hospitals from MET philosophy to RRS. Last year at the Rapid Response Systems conference, we transitioned beyond MET to RRS. This year our conference and others entrenched in rapid response systems are looking at other safety linkages. It is important to avoid mismatched resources and build a system that finds and correct those inequities, versus just a team. Pre-planned team responses and behavioral change is needed instead of trying to piece together a response after the crisis has occurred. Studies confirm patients in step-down units can become critically ill outside of the ICU environment. For this group of patients, early event detection and triggers through RRS can make a difference in the number of preventable hospital deaths.



An important function of the rapid response system is post-crisis reviews. We recognize that there are patterns to deterioration, changes in vital signs, medication type and even the time of day and unit setting. By reviewing all the events, one can detect previously undetected patterns, and create systems and plans to avert future events. Most new systems do not emphasize this while many mature systems depend on it for a safer hospital, said DeVita. At UPMC in Pittsburgh the rapid response system has virtually eliminated some types of problems that other hospitals are now just addressing.



On Tuesday, May 8 Dr. DeVita addressed the question, Are all deaths preventable



Many deaths are preventable; however, RRS is not a response for incurable organ failure, terminal cardiac disease or some types of cancer. There are, however, preventable events, where as health care professionals we could have and should have done something to avert the medical crisis or even death. Our data show that a MET will not prevent all potentially avoidable cardiac arrests. At the end of the day, if one identifies the sources of potentially avoidable cardiac arrests, like moving appropriate patients into a palliative care plan, or eliminating the events with medical errors or process problems like delayed testing or treatment of diseases, you are still left with a few unpredictable, unpreventable, and irreversible events. But these are very few.



Conference speakers and exhibitors also cited the innovations of biomedical and diagnostic companies to create better technology and tools to detect events sooner. According to DeVita, the innovations of great promise are those that continuously monitor patient status and integrate the data so it is easily recognizable by physicians, nurses and staff. If you can'st find a patient who needs help, you can'st respond to that patient. It'ss that simple, said DeVita. We must find every patient who is in crisis and doesn'st have needed resources, and bring the resources to the bedside.



Resources:

Rapid Response Systems -- Dr. Michael DeVita, UPMC, devitam (at) msx.upmc.edu, or www.metconference.com

UPMC -- Wendy Zellner, UPMC News Bureau, Zellnerwl (at) upmc.edu, 412-647-9944 or www.upmc.com.



Clinical studies involving the BioSign Index, the automated early warning system referenced at the conference poster sessions -- www.obsmedical.com.



To arrange a follow-up interview or receive case study illustrations or photography contact Karen Roberts, Medical Writer, 317-730-5349, kroberts.rbg (at) att.net






Prnewsnow Reach the World NOW

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

This article has been robotically scanned and tagged by Prnewsnow with the following search tags. No human manipulation of these tags take place.
| Divorce | Total Divorce | |




Last 1000 Articles Submitted XML FEEDS FOR ORGANIZED NEWS