Stephanie K Sprogis1, Judy Currey2, Daryl Jones3, Julie Considine4. 1. Deakin University: School of Nursing and Midwifery & Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia. Electronic address: sprogiss@deakin.edu.au. 2. Deakin University: School of Nursing and Midwifery & Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia; Deakin University: Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia; Deakin University: Deakin Learning Futures, Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia. Electronic address: judy.currey@deakin.edu.au. 3. Department of Intensive Care, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia; Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: daryl.jones@austin.org.au. 4. Deakin University: School of Nursing and Midwifery & Institute for Health Transformation, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia; Deakin University: Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia; Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, 2/5 Arnold St, Box Hill, Victoria, 3128, Australia. Electronic address: julie.considine@deakin.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pre-medical emergency team (pre-MET) tier of rapid response systems (RRSs) includes extended activation criteria to identify earlier clinical deterioration and a ward-based patient review that is undertaken by the affected patient's admitting team or covering doctors. There is limited understanding of the structure and processes of the pre-MET RRS tier that are expected to guide clinicians' actions and subsequent patient safety outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe the structure and processes of the pre-MET RRS tier in one acute care setting. METHODS: An exploratory descriptive design involving document analysis was used. Guidance documents (policies, procedures, guidelines, charts, educational materials) were obtained from one health service with a mature, multitiered RRS in Melbourne, Australia. Documents were analysed using content analysis. Concept- and data-driven approaches were used to construct a coding frame. RESULTS: Nineteen guidance documents supporting the pre-MET RRS tier on general wards were analysed. The coding frame consisted of seven main categories: Defining the Pre-MET RRS Tier, Essential Resources for Operationalisation, Recognising Pre-MET Events, Pathways for Activation, Exceptions to the Rule, Clinician Responses to Pre-MET Events, and Recording Pre-MET Events. The structures and processes of the pre-MET RRS tier were largely consistent with national guidelines, but there were internal inconsistencies in pre-MET activation criteria and unclear recommendations for modifying criteria. Pathways for activating the pre-MET RRS tier were complex and involved many steps, including validation processes before escalation of care to doctors. Responses to pre-MET events were seldom aligned to specific clinician types or groups, with nurses and allied health clinicians being under-represented. CONCLUSIONS: We identified opportunities to improve guidance documents supporting the pre-MET RRS tier that may assist other health services engaged in planning or evaluating pre-MET strategies. Further research is needed to understand clinicians' use of the pre-MET RRS tier to inform targeted strategies to optimise its design and implementation.
BACKGROUND: The pre-medical emergency team (pre-MET) tier of rapid response systems (RRSs) includes extended activation criteria to identify earlier clinical deterioration and a ward-based patient review that is undertaken by the affected patient's admitting team or covering doctors. There is limited understanding of the structure and processes of the pre-MET RRS tier that are expected to guide clinicians' actions and subsequent patient safety outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe the structure and processes of the pre-MET RRS tier in one acute care setting. METHODS: An exploratory descriptive design involving document analysis was used. Guidance documents (policies, procedures, guidelines, charts, educational materials) were obtained from one health service with a mature, multitiered RRS in Melbourne, Australia. Documents were analysed using content analysis. Concept- and data-driven approaches were used to construct a coding frame. RESULTS: Nineteen guidance documents supporting the pre-MET RRS tier on general wards were analysed. The coding frame consisted of seven main categories: Defining the Pre-MET RRS Tier, Essential Resources for Operationalisation, Recognising Pre-MET Events, Pathways for Activation, Exceptions to the Rule, Clinician Responses to Pre-MET Events, and Recording Pre-MET Events. The structures and processes of the pre-MET RRS tier were largely consistent with national guidelines, but there were internal inconsistencies in pre-MET activation criteria and unclear recommendations for modifying criteria. Pathways for activating the pre-MET RRS tier were complex and involved many steps, including validation processes before escalation of care to doctors. Responses to pre-MET events were seldom aligned to specific clinician types or groups, with nurses and allied health clinicians being under-represented. CONCLUSIONS: We identified opportunities to improve guidance documents supporting the pre-MET RRS tier that may assist other health services engaged in planning or evaluating pre-MET strategies. Further research is needed to understand clinicians' use of the pre-MET RRS tier to inform targeted strategies to optimise its design and implementation.
Keywords:
Clinical deterioration; Early medical intervention; Health policy; Hospital rapid response team; Nursing; Patient care team; Patient safety; Qualitative research; Systems analysis