Implementation and impact of a rapid response team in a children's hospital.

Like the previous two studies of RRS implementation in a children's hospital, this study--the first to use an RRT model--showed a decrease in the incidence of arrests (although not at a significant level). Low mortality rates and infrequent arrests in children's hospitals make changes in these measures insensitive indicators of the positive impact of RRT implementation. RRTs provide an immediate response for children whose clinical condition is worrisome and whose attending physicians are not immediately present. Children receive significant care through the RRT, and nurse response is very favorable to having access to fast, dependable, and knowledgeable backup 24 hours a day. The RRT program is a vital component of the safety net for children's hospitals, and RRT data provides an avenue for quality improvement efforts and further research.