Rapid response teams are a group of clinicians who respond to emergencies and manage critical situations to prevent avoidable deaths. Researchers observed RRTs in action and interviewed members of RRTs in a large teaching hospital in California to determine factors of effective teams. The authors identified the following elements as critical to effective RRTs:
• Organizational culture — A culture that values innovation to improve patient safety, supports leaders in adopting patient safety initiatives and aligns clinical and administrative leadership.
• Collaboration — Nurses with critical care nursing experience working with bedside nurses to assess risk.
• Expertise — Highly skilled team members who apply clinical knowledge and experience in crisis situations.
• Communication — Open dialogue that focuses on patients’ needs, coordination of information seeking and gaining a clinical understanding of the critical situation.
• Teamwork — Working collaboratively with a shared purpose.
• Training — Multidisciplinary training on communication, collaboration and a team orientation.
The authors also noted several areas for improvement, including training on relationship building, an increased focus on communication, practicing working as a team in simulations, debriefing team members after an intervention and evaluating team performance in addition to patient outcomes.
More Articles on Patient Safety and Teamwork:
Healthcare Emotional Intelligence: Its Role in Patient Outcomes and Organizational Success
Reducing Surgical Errors at Memorial Healthcare Through Crew Resource Management
5 Solutions for Better Rapport With Hospital Frontline Staff
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
