Late Rescue Collaborative: Reducing Non-ICU Arrests.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care
• Quality improvement science
• Patient safety research

Background:

• Non-intensive care unit (ICU) arrests pose a significant risk to patient safety.
• Effective early recognition and intervention are crucial for preventing adverse events in acute care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To decrease the incidence of non-ICU arrests.
• To implement and evaluate an intramural collaborative focused on identifying and managing patient deterioration.

Main Methods:

• A prospective quality improvement project was conducted at a tertiary children's hospital.
• The Late Rescue Collaborative, a multidisciplinary team, monitored escalation protocols and patient deterioration through regular meetings.
• Interventions were developed and implemented based on identified trends and lessons learned.

Main Results:

• Non-ICU arrest rates decreased from 0.31 to 0.11 per 1,000 patient days, sustained for 36 months.
• The average time between non-ICU arrests increased from 15.5 days to 61.5 days, sustained for 37 months.
• Mortality following non-ICU arrests dropped to zero between 2016 and 2018.

Conclusions:

• The Late Rescue Collaborative effectively reduced non-ICU arrests.
• This multidisciplinary approach is a valuable tool for enhancing patient safety and preventing critical events.