Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack
Published on: May 15, 2020
The frequency and nature of clinician identified medication-related rapid response system calls
Bianca J Levkovich1, Gordon Bingham2, Judit Orosz3
1Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Medicines Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Safer Care Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Aim:
The contribution of adverse medication events to clinical deterioration is unknown. This study aimed to determine the frequency and nature of rapid response system (RRS) calls that clinicians perceived were medication-related using RRS quality arm data.
Methods:
Analysis of routine data prospectively collected by clinicians responding to RRS calls in an Australian acute tertiary academic hospital.
Results:
Between January 2013 and June 2017, 12,221 adult patients triggered the RRS for 25,906 medical emergency team (MET) and 512 code blue calls. Clinicians identified 433 medication-related RRS calls (1.6%) involving 406 patients (3.3%). These included 418 MET calls (1.3 medication-related MET calls per 1000 admissions) and 15 code blue calls (0.045 medication-related code blue calls per 1000 admissions). Medication-related calls occurred earlier in the admission (p = 0.002) and were more common for patients triggering multiple calls during the same admission (p < 0.001), compared to non-medication-related calls. Medication-related calls most commonly were triggered by low blood pressure (38.3%) and involved cardiovascular (43.0%) and nervous system medications (36.0%). Dose-related toxicity (n = 178) was the most frequent adverse medication event contributing to medication-related calls.
Conclusion:
One in 30 patients triggering a RRS call experienced medication-related clinical deterioration, most often due to dose related toxicity of cardiovascular system medications. The perceived frequency and potential preventability of this medication-related harm suggest further research is required to increase recognition of medication-related RRS calls by responding clinicians and to reduce the incidence.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Pharmacovigilance
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
01:26Types of Reports III: Telephone and Verbal Reports
Here's an overview of each type:
Telephone Orders
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
01:14SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
01:21Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report
Purposes:
In the healthcare industry, reports play a crucial role in documenting incidents within an agency. The primary objective of these reports is to ensure patient safety, uphold the...
01:30Pulse rhythm
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac...