SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Icu, Not Quite: Reducing Unnecessary Transfers With Critical Care Support Nurses in Rapid Response Team Activations

Icu, Not Quite: Reducing Unnecessary Transfers With Critical Care Support Nurses in Rapid Response Team Activations

Pdf Summary

This single-center study examined whether adding a Critical Care Support Nurse (CCSN) during Rapid Response Team (RRT) activations could reduce unnecessary ICU transfers. RRTs are known to lower in-hospital mortality, cardiac arrest, and unplanned ICU admissions, but there is limited evidence about what happens to patients who are transferred to the ICU after an RRT event.<br /><br />At Duke University, a CCSN provides one-to-one care on the floor to help resuscitate or stabilize patients at their current level of care, potentially avoiding ICU transfer. However, the evidence supporting this practice is limited.<br /><br />The project used a chart review over a 23-month intervention period. It focused on RRT events and subsequent patient outcomes, comparing floor care support with ICU transfer patterns. The abstract suggests that a meaningful portion of patients required interventions such as pressors and noninvasive ventilation, while some cases involved goals-of-care discussions or death. The data indicate that not all RRT activations necessarily require ICU-level care, and that enhanced bedside critical care support may help manage select patients safely outside the ICU.<br /><br />The team’s future directions include: surveying providers, educating staff about which patient populations may benefit most from CCSN support, and increasing use of the CCSN program.<br /><br />Overall, the study explores a strategy to reduce avoidable ICU transfers by strengthening critical care capability on the general ward during rapid response events.

Asset Subtitle

Parsa Ghasem

Meta Tag

Author List Cara O'Brien, Parsa Ghasem

Category Research

Concept Rapid Response Team

Concept Inpatient Mortality

Concept Cardiac Arrest

Concept Unplanned ICU Admission

Concept Critical Care Support Nurse

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Duke University School of Medicine

Presenting Author Parsa Ghasem

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

Rapid Response Team

Critical Care Support Nurse

ICU transfer

unnecessary ICU admissions

critical care

bedside resuscitation

noninvasive ventilation

pressors

hospital mortality

general ward support

Rapid Response Team

Inpatient Mortality

Cardiac Arrest

Unplanned ICU Admission

Critical Care Support Nurse