Differences in the Clinical Characteristics of Rapid Response System Activation in Patients Admitted to Medical or Surgical Services

The Hospitalist-Oncologist co-ManagemEnt (HOME) system improves hospitalization outcomes of patients with cancer

BACKGROUND

The hospitalist system has been introduced to improve the quality and safety of inpatient care. As its effectiveness has been confirmed in previous studies, the hospitalist system is spreading in various fields. However, few studies have investigated the feasibility and value of hospitalist-led care of patients with cancer in terms of quality and safety measures. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Hospitalist-Oncologist co-ManagemEnt (HOME) system.

METHODS

Between January 1, 2019, and January 31, 2021, we analyzed 591 admissions before and 1068 admissions after the introduction of HOME system on January 1, 2020. We compared the length of stay and the types and frequencies of safety events between the conventional system and the HOME system, retrospectively. We also investigate rapid response system activation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, unplanned intensive care unit transfer, all-cause in-hospital mortality, and 30-day re-admission or emergency department visits.

RESULTS

The average length of stay (15.9 days vs. 12.9 days, P < 0.001), frequency of safety events (5.6% vs. 2.8%, P = 0.006), rapid response system activation (7.3% vs. 2.2%, P < 0.001) were significantly reduced after the HOME system introduction. However, there was no statistical difference in frequencies of cardiopulomonary resuscitation and intensive care unit transfer, all-cause in-hospital morality, 30-day unplanned re-admission or emergency department visits.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that the HOME system provides higher quality of care and safer environment compared to conventional oncologist-led team-based care, and the efficiency of the medical delivery system could be increased by reducing the hospitalization period without increase in 30-day unplanned re-admission.

Clinical significance of acute care surgery system as a part of hospital medical emergency team for hospitalized patients

Purpose

Acute care surgery (ACS) has been practiced in several tertiary hospitals in South Korea since the late 2000s. The medical emergency team (MET) has improved the management of patients with clinical deterioration during hospitalization. This study aimed to identify the clinical effectiveness of collaboration between ACS and MET in hospitalized patients.

Methods

This was an observational before-and-after study. Emergency surgical cases of hospitalized patients were included in this study. Patients hospitalized in the Department of Emergency Medicine or Department of Surgery, directly comanaged by ACS were excluded. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality rate. The secondary outcome was the alarm-to-operation interval, as recorded by a Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) of >4.

Results

In total, 240 patients were included in the analysis (131 in the pre-ACS group and 109 in the post-ACS group). The in-hospital mortality rates in the pre- and post-ACS groups were 17.6% and 22.9%, respectively (P = 0.300). MEWS of >4 within 72 hours was recorded in 62 cases (31 in each group), and the median alarm-to-operation intervals of each group were 11 hours 16 minutes and 6 hours 41 minutes, respectively (P = 0.040).

Conclusion

Implementation of the ACS system resulted in faster surgical intervention in hospitalized patients, the need for which was detected early by the MET. The in-hospital mortality rates before and after ACS implementation were not significantly different.

Development of a comprehensive model for the role of the rapid response team nurse

OBJECTIVE

To develop a comprehensive model of the role of the rapid response team nurse.

DESIGN

Using an experience-based co-design approach, qualitative data concerning the categories and components of the role of the rapid response team nurse were generated via workshops and one-on-one interviews with service users and providers. The appropriateness of the comprehensive model was evaluated through an online survey.

SETTING

Forty-six tertiary hospitals across South Korea. A total of 114 rapid response team service providers and users were recruited using convenience sampling.

FINDINGS

The comprehensive model included the requirements, facilitating factors, barriers, and outcomes as well as the roles and tasks of rapid response team nurses. The key roles in the final model were found to be: 1) Screening of patients with acute exacerbation, 2) Professional support for emergencies, 3) Education for service users, 4) Consultation for high-risk patient care, 5) Support for patient and family decision-making, 6) Coordination between departments, and 7) Management of the rapid response team. These roles contain 57 specific tasks. Rapid response team professionals finalised the model by evaluating the appropriateness of its components.

CONCLUSION

An experience-based co-design approach was used to develop a comprehensive model that reflects the insights and needs of rapid response team service users and providers. We recommend that the model be validated and supplemented by data from different institutions and countries.

Relationship between the presence of dedicated doctors in rapid response systems and patient outcome: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Rapid response systems (RRSs) improve patients' safety, but the role of dedicated doctors within these systems remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate patient survival rates and differences in types of interventions performed depending on the presence of dedicated doctors in the RRS.

METHODS

Patients managed by the RRSs of 9 centers in South Korea from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2017, were included retrospectively. We used propensity score-matched analysis to balance patients according to the presence of dedicated doctors in the RRS. The primary outcome was in-hospital survival. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of interventions performed. A sensitivity analysis was performed with the subgroup of patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, 2981 patients were included per group according to the presence of dedicated doctors in the RRS. The presence of the dedicated doctors was not associated with patients' overall likelihood of survival (hazard ratio for death 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93‒1.20). Interventions, such as arterial line insertion (odds ratio [OR] 25.33, 95% CI 15.12‒42.44) and kidney replacement therapy (OR 10.77, 95% CI 6.10‒19.01), were more commonly performed for patients detected using RRS with dedicated doctors. The presence of dedicated doctors in the RRS was associated with better survival of patients with sepsis or septic shock (hazard ratio for death 0.62, 95% CI 0.39‒0.98) and lower intensive care unit admission rates (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.37‒0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of dedicated doctors within the RRS was not associated with better survival in the overall population but with better survival and lower intensive care unit admission rates for patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Risk Factors for Early Medical Emergency Team Reactivation in Hospitalized Patients

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors for early medical emergency team reactivation (which is defined as repeated medical emergency team calls within 72 hr after the index medical emergency team call) in the patients remaining on the ward after index medical emergency team activation.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis with prospectively collected data.

SETTING

A university-affiliated, tertiary referral hospital.

PATIENTS

All consecutive patients over 18 years old who received medical emergency team intervention.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of the 3,989 cases eligible for analysis, 514 cases (12.9%) were classified into the reactivation group, with the remainder assigned to the nonreactivation group. In a multivariate analysis, chronic lung disease (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.03-1.86; p = 0.032), chronic liver disease (odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.04-1.99; p = 0.028), activation due to bedside concern about overall deterioration without abnormal physiological variables (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.00-1.68; p = 0.049), advice or consultation only for medical emergency team intervention (odds ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.63-0.97; p = 0.027), and discussion about treatment limitation (odds ratio, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25-0.60; p < 0.001) were independently associated with medical emergency team reactivation. In the reactivation group, 249 patients (48.5%) were transferred to the ICU after repeated calls. Medical department admission (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.12-2.52; p = 0.012), chronic liver disease (odds ratio, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.07-2.79; p = 0.025), hematological malignancies (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.10-2.41; p = 0.015), and tachypnea at the end of medical emergency team were risk factors for medical emergency team reactivation requiring ICU admission. Discussion about treatment limitation (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.05-0.40; p < 0.001) was also associated with decreased risk of medical emergency team reactivation requiring ICU admission.

CONCLUSIONS

An increased risk of early medical emergency team reactivation was associated with medical emergency team activation by bedside concern about overall deterioration and patients with chronic lung or liver disease.

The characteristics, types of intervention, and outcomes of postoperative patients who required rapid response system intervention: a nationwide database analysis

Purpose

Improving the safety of general wards is a key to reducing serious adverse events in the postoperative period. We investigated the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of postoperative patients managed by a rapid response system (RRS) in Japan to improve postoperative management.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed cases requiring RRS intervention that were included in the In-Hospital Emergency Registry in Japan. We analyzed data reported by 34 Japanese hospitals between January 2014 and March 2018, mainly focusing on postoperative patients for whom the RRS was activated within 7 days of surgery. Non-postoperative patients, for whom the RRS was activated in all other settings, were used for comparison as necessary.

Results

There were 609 (12.7%) postoperative patients among the total patients in the registry. The major criteria were staff concerns (30.2%) and low oxygen saturation (29.7%). Hypotension, tachycardia, and inability to contact physicians were observed as triggers significantly more frequently in postoperative patients when compared with non-postoperative patients. Among RRS activations within 7 days of surgery, 68.9% of activations occurred within postoperative day 3. The ordering of tests (46.8%) and fluid bolus (34.6%) were major interventions that were performed significantly more frequently in postoperative patients when compared with non-postoperative patients. The rate of RRS activations resulting in ICU care was 32.8%. The mortality rate at 1 month was 16.2%.

Conclusion

Approximately, 70% of the RRS activations occurred within postoperative day 3. Circulatory problems were a more frequent cause of RRS activation in the postoperative group than in the non-postoperative group.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00540-021-02900-4.

The illness severity of patients reviewed by the medical emergency team: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Medical emergency teams (METs) are internationally used to manage hospitalised deteriorating patients. Although triggers for MET review and hospital outcomes have previously been widely reported, the illness severity at the point of MET review has not been reported. As such, levels of clinical acuity and patient dependency representing the risk of exposure to short-term adverse clinical outcomes remain largely unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review sought to understand the illness severity of MET review recipients in terms of acuity and dependency.

METHODS

This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. The published and grey literature since 2009 was searched to identify relevant articles reporting illness severity scores associated with hospitalised adult inpatients reviewed by a MET. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 articles (16 quantitative studies, one mixed-methods study) were reviewed, summarised, collated, and reported.

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies reported clinical acuity metrics for patients reviewed by a MET. No studies described an integrated risk score encompassing acuity, patient dependency, or wider parameters that might be associated with increased patient risk or the need for intervention. Multi-MET review, the use of specialist interventions, and delayed/transfer to the intensive care unit were associated with a greater risk of clinical deterioration, higher clinical acuity score, and predicted mortality risk. A single dependency metric was not reported although organisational levels of care, the duration of MET review, MET interventions, chronic illness, and frailty were inferred proxy measures.

CONCLUSION

Of the 17 studies reviewed, no single study provided an integrated assessment of illness severity from which to stratify risk or support patient management processes. Patients reviewed by a MET have variable and rapidly changing health needs that make them particularly vulnerable. The lack of high-quality data reporting acuity and dependency limits our understanding of true clinical risk and subsequent opportunities for pathway development.

Impact of critical care response team implementation on oncology patient outcomes: A retrospective cohort study

Introduction:

The main goal of a critical care response team (CCRT) is to quickly assess and transfer, if required, rapidly deteriorating patients to an intensive care unit (ICU) to prevent cardiopulmonary arrest, stabilize patients' condition, and help in optimizing the care provided by the primary team. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between early intervention by CCRT and the outcome of oncology patients.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. KAMC is a tertiary care facility with 1200-bed capacity. The study compared oncology patients to nononcology patients.

Results:

Over 4 years, a total number of 4941 patients were reviewed, of which 172 were oncology patients. The average age of patients in the oncology group was 48.8 ± 20.7, while the average age for nononcology was 52.8 ± 21.2 (P = 0.016). The average Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score on admission for oncology patients was higher than that for the nononcology group (27.8 ± 8.9 vs. 23.6 ± 9.3, respectively). Lower ICU mortality was seen after CCRT implementation (38.8% vs. 62.7%). The average duration of hospital stay and ICU stay increased after CCRT implementation (37.34 vs. 29.31 and 11.93 vs. 8.9, respectively).

Conclusion:

In this study, we identified that early intervention by implementing CCRT had a significant impact in reducing ICU mortality for oncology and nononcology patients.

Relationships between the National Early Warning Score 2, clinical worry and patient outcome at discharge: Retrospective observational study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To examine the performance of the National Early Warning Score 2 and composite score for clinical worry in identifying patients at risk of clinical deterioration, and to determine relationships between National Early Warning Score 2, clinical worry score and patient outcome at discharge.

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of early warning systems depends on patient population and care settings. Based on a theoretical framework on factors affecting clinical deterioration and patient outcomes, studies exploring the relationship between early warning systems and patient outcomes at discharge are sparse.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

METHODS

A random sample of 732 medical records were reviewed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to evaluate predictive abilities regarding the events of unanticipated in-hospital mortality, unplanned intensive care unit/ higher dependency bed admission and cardiac arrest. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine relationships between National Early Warning Score 2, clinical worry score and patient outcome. Reporting followed the STROBE checklist.

RESULTS

National Early Warning Score 2 and clinical worry score significantly predicted the events within 24 hr of the assessment. After controlling for other patient, treatment and organisational characteristics, National Early Warning Score 2 was a significant factor associated with patient outcome, but clinical worry score was not. Specifically, patients at high risk based on National Early Warning Score 2 were less likely to have improved outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

National Early Warning Score 2 and clinical worry score performed well for predicting deteriorating condition of patients. National Early Warning Score 2 was significantly associated with patient outcome. It can be used for efficient patient management for safe, quality care.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

National Early Warning Score 2 can be used for early assessment of not only clinical deterioration but also patient outcome and provide timely intervention, when coupled with clinical worry score.

Effect of a rapid response system on code rates and in-hospital mortality in medical wards

BACKGROUND

To determine the effects of implementing a rapid response system (RRS) on code rates and in-hospital mortality in medical wards.

METHODS

This retrospective study included adult patients admitted to medical wards at Seoul National University Hospital between July 12, 2016 and March 12, 2018; the sample comprised 4,224 patients admitted 10 months before RRS implementation and 4,168 patients admitted 10 months following RRS implementation. Our RRS only worked during the daytime (7 AM to 7 PM) on weekdays. We compared code rates and in-hospital mortality rates between the preintervention and postintervention groups.

RESULTS

There were 62.3 RRS activations per 1,000 admissions. The most common reasons for RRS activation were tachypnea or hypopnea (44%), hypoxia (31%), and tachycardia or bradycardia (21%). Code rates from medical wards during RRS operating times significantly decreased from 3.55 to 0.96 per 1,000 admissions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10 to 0.87; P=0.028) after RRS implementation. However, code rates from medical wards during RRS nonoperating times did not differ between the preintervention and postintervention groups (2.60 vs. 3.12 per 1,000 admissions; aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.55 to 2.76; P=0.614). In-hospital mortality significantly decreased from 56.3 to 42.7 per 1,000 admissions after RRS implementation (aOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.97; P=0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of an RRS was associated with significant reductions in code rates during RRS operating times and in-hospital mortality in medical wards.

Effect of intensivist involvement on clinical outcomes in patients with advanced lung cancer admitted to the intensive care unit

Purpose

Intensive care unit (ICU)-related mortality for lung cancer is ranked highest among the solid tumors and little information exists on the role of intensivists on clinical outcomes. This study aimed to elucidate the intensivist’s contribution toward clinical outcomes.

Materials and methods

Data of advanced lung cancer patients, including stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer and extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, admitted to the ICU from 2005 to 2016 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine variables associated with ICU and in-hospital mortality. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) for time-series was used to assess the intensivist’s impact.

Results

Of 264 patients, 85 (32.2%) were admitted to the ICU before and 179 (67.8%) after organized intensive care introduction in 2011. Before and after 2011, the changes observed were as follows: ICU mortality rate, 43.5% to 40.2%, respectively (p = 0.610); hospital mortality rate, 82.4% to 65. 9% (p = 0.006). The duration of ICU and hospital stay decreased after 2011 (14.5±16.5 vs. 8.3 ± 8.6, p < 0.001; 36.6 ± 37.2 vs. 22.0 ± 19.6, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, admission after 2011 was independently associated with decreased hospital mortality (Odds ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.21–0.77, p = 0.006). In ARIMA models, intensivist involvement was associated with significantly reduced hospital mortality. (Estimate -17.95, standard error 5.31, p = 0.001)

Conclusion

In patients with advanced lung cancer, organized intensive care could contribute to improved clinical outcomes.

Evaluation of the SpO2/FiO2 ratio as a predictor of intensive care unit transfers in respiratory ward patients for whom the rapid response system has been activated

Efforts to detect patient deterioration early have led to the development of early warning score (EWS) models. However, these models are disease-nonspecific and have shown variable accuracy in predicting unexpected critical events. Here, we propose a simpler and more accurate method for predicting risk in respiratory ward patients. This retrospective study analyzed adult patients who were admitted to the respiratory ward and detected using the rapid response system (RRS). Study outcomes included transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) within 24 hours after RRS activation and in-hospital mortality. Prediction power of existing EWS models including Modified EWS (MEWS), National EWS (NEWS), and VitalPAC EWS (ViEWS) and SpO₂/FiO₂ (SF) ratio were compared to each other using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Overall, 456 patients were included; median age was 75 years (interquartile range: 65–80) and 344 (75.4%) were male. Seventy-three (16.0%) and 79 (17.3%) patients were transferred to the ICU and died. The SF ratio displayed better or comparable predictive accuracy for unexpected ICU transfer (AUROC: 0.744) compared to MEWS (0.744 vs. 0.653, P = 0.03), NEWS (0.744 vs. 0.667, P = 0.04), and ViEWS (0.744 vs. 0.675, P = 0.06). For in-hospital mortality, although there was no statistical difference, the AUROC of the SF ratio (0.660) was higher than that of each of the preexisting EWS models. In comparison with the preexisting EWS models, the SF ratio showed better or comparable predictive accuracy for unexpected ICU transfers in the respiratory wards.

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Rapid Response Team Activations

Background

To ensure patient safety and improvements in the quality of hospital care, rapid response teams (RRTs) have been implemented in many countries, including Korea. The goal of an RRT is early identification and response to clinical deterioration in patients. However, there are differences in RRT systems among hospitals and limited data are available.

Methods

In Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, the St. Mary's Advanced Life Support Team was implemented in June 2013. We retrospectively reviewed the RRT activation records of 287 cases from June 2013 to December 2016.

Results

The median response time and median modified early warning score were 8.6 minutes (interquartile range, 5.6 to 11.6 minutes) and 5.0 points (interquartile range, 4.0 to 7.0 points), respectively. Residents (35.8%) and nurses (59.1%) were the main activators of the RRT. Interestingly, postoperative patients account for a large percentage of the RRT activation cases (69.3%). The survival rate was 83.6% and survival was mainly associated with malignancy, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II score, and the time from admission to RRT activation. RRT activation with screening showed a better outcome compared to activation via a phone call in terms of the intensive care unit admission rate and length of hospital stay after RRT activation.

Conclusions

Malignancy was the most important factor related to survival. In addition, RRT activation with patient screening showed a better outcome compared to activation via a phone call. Further studies are needed to determine the effective screening criteria and improve the quality of the RRT system.