Building High-Performance Team Dynamics for Rapid Response Events in a US Tertiary Hospital: A Quality Improvement Model for Sustainable Process Change.

Abstract

Hospital rapid response systems are designed to reduce unmet patient needs and prevent clinical deterioration. Rapid response teams are the principal component of a rapid response system and require teamwork to function optimally; poor communication among team members can result in substandard patient care. The authors describe a process for developing and implementing standardized communication and a teamwork structure for rapid response events (RREs) at a large academic hospital. The multidisciplinary team developed a project charter and key driver diagram, developed a "communication bundle," used quality improvement methodology, monitored adherence to the changes, and reported these data to key stakeholders on a weekly basis. By project end, the team met the goal of having 70% or more of adult RREs include the use of the "communication bundle." The balancing measure demonstrated that the introduction of a formalized communication framework did not significantly increase the duration of RREs.