An exploration of medical emergency team intervention at the end of life for people with advanced cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Brown ◽  
Allison Drosdowsky ◽  
Meinir Krishnasamy
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Medical Emergency Team ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Emergency Team

The role of the medical emergency team in end-of-life care

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl A. Jones ◽  
Sean M. Bagshaw ◽  
Jonathon Barrett ◽  
Rinaldo Bellomo ◽  
Gaurav Bhatia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Medical Emergency Team ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Emergency Team

Deteriorating patients managed with end-of-life care following Medical Emergency Team calls

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Orosz ◽  
M. Bailey ◽  
M. Bohensky ◽  
M. Gold ◽  
S. Zalstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Medical Emergency Team ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Emergency Team

Comparison of policies for recognising and responding to clinical deterioration across five Victorian health services

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Considine ◽  
Anastasia F. Hutchison ◽  
Helen Rawson ◽  
Alison M. Hutchinson ◽  
Tracey Bucknall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Medical Emergency Team ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Clinical Deterioration ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Emergency Team ◽  
Subacute Care ◽  
Guidance Documents ◽  
Activation Criteria

Objectives The aim of the present study was to describe and compare organisational guidance documents related to recognising and responding to clinical deterioration across five health services in Victoria, Australia. Methods Guidance documents were obtained from five health services, comprising 13 acute care hospitals, eight subacute care hospitals and approximately 5500 beds. Analysis was guided by a specific policy analysis framework and a priori themes. Results In all, 22 guidance documents and five graphic observation and response charts were reviewed. Variation was observed in terminology, content and recommendations between the health services. Most health services’ definitions of physiological observations fulfilled national standards in terms of minimum parameters and frequency of assessment. All health services had three-tier rapid response systems (RRS) in place at both acute and subacute care sites, consisting of activation criteria and an expected response. RRS activation criteria varied between sites, with all sites requiring modifications to RRS activation criteria to be made by medical staff. All sites had processes for patient and family escalation of care. Conclusions Current guidance documents related to the frequency of observations and escalation of care omit the vital role of nurses in these processes. Inconsistencies between health services may lead to confusion in a mobile workforce and may reduce system dependability. What is known about the topic? Recognising and responding to clinical deterioration is a major patient safety priority. To comply with national standards, health services must have systems in place for recognising and responding to clinical deterioration. What does this paper add? There is some variability in terminology, definitions and specifications of physiological observations and medical emergency team (MET) activation criteria between health services. Although nurses are largely responsible for physiological observations and escalation of care, they have little authority to direct frequency of observations and triggers for care escalation or tailor assessment to individual patient needs. Failure to identify nurses’ role in policy is concerning and contrary to the evidence regarding nurses and MET activations in practice. What are the implications for practitioners? Inconsistencies in recommendations regarding physiological observations and escalation of care criteria may create patient safety issues when students and staff work across organisations or move from one organisation to another. The validity of other parameters, such as appearance, pain, skin colour and cognition, warrant further consideration as early indicators of deterioration that may be used by nurses to identify clinical deterioration earlier. A better understanding of the relationship between the sensitivity, specificity and frequency of monitoring of particular physiological observations and patient outcomes is needed to improve the predictive validity for identification of clinical deterioration.

Features of an Intensive Care based Medical Emergency Team nurse training program in a University Teaching Hospital

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Topple ◽  
Brooke Ryan ◽  
Richard McKay ◽  
Damien Blythe ◽  
John Rogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Medical Emergency Team ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Nurse Training ◽  
Emergency Team
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