Early Warning Scoring System Proactively Identifies Patients at Risk of Deterioration, Leading to Fewer Cardiopulmonary Emergencies and Deaths

Early Warning Scoring System Proactively Identifies Patients at Risk of Deterioration, Leading to Fewer Cardiopulmonary Emergencies and Deaths

Snapshot
Summary
Mercy Hospital Anderson nurses use the Modified Early Warning System, a simple scoring system applied to patients' routinely measured physiological vital signs, to identify patients likely to deteriorate, notify physicians and other caregivers when appropriate, and take other necessary steps to avert further decline. The system has increased calls to the rapid response team, reduced "code blue" (cardiopulmonary) emergencies, and contributed (along with other hospital initiatives) to a significant reduction in mortality.

Evidence Rating
Moderate: The evidence consists of before-and-after comparisons of key outcomes measures, including the number of "code blue" emergencies and rapid response team calls and hospital-wide mortality rates.

Developing Organizations
Mercy Hospital Anderson

Cincinnati, OH end do
Date First Implemented
2008
August

Patient Population
Vulnerable Populations > Intensive care unit patients




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AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Early Warning Scoring System Proactively Identifies Patients at Risk of Deterioration, Leading to Fewer Cardiopulmonary Emergencies and Deaths