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Commitment to Quality

Rapid Response Teams

Rapid Response teams are in place at many forward-thinking hospitals, like St. Anthony's Medical Center, as a lifesaving measure for patients.

The teams, including a intensivist or house/ICU physician, a respiratory therapist and a critical care nurse, are on site 24 hours a day. Teams are called when indicators show a patient's condition is worsening.

It is an effort to intervene more quickly before the patient reaches "Code Blue" emergency status. The experienced rescue team can stabilize a patient or move them to the ICU as needed. They also are able to give a more concise and comprehensive evaluation to the attending physician when he or she responds to the emergency call.

St. Anthony's experience and research shows that patients have better outcomes when Rapid Response teams intervene early.