Overview

Making Hospitals Safer Rapid response systems (RRS) have been developed to proactively identify patients at risk for clinical deterioration within the hospital, and to deliver reliable, safe, quality treatment to those individuals. The RRS expands care for the critically ill across the whole hospital. The RRS has arisen in response to the widespread realisation that many patients suffer harm or death due to unrecognised or poorly managed deterioration – particularly in general wards – and is now well established or standard of care in many countries. Annual Meeting The iSRRS hosts an annual conference covering a range of topics concerning rapid response systems and patient safety. All sessions are relevant for medical, nursing, managerial and administrative staff interested in the detection and prevention of patient deterioration, and improving patient safety in our hospitals. Research The leading scientific work on rapid response systems, patient deterioration, and advanced skills training have come from prior conference organizers, board members and society members. The society will promote both research and system development year-round through on-line updates and discussions, and by publicizing current and exciting work through electronic media. Our goal is to bring together the best minds in the field and create the changes that will provide the best care for the acutely ill patent. Changing Hospital Culture The Rapid Response System (RRS) is a relatively unique intervention built around the needs of patients, and that needs to work across the whole organisation. The patient in this case is one who is deteriorating, usually on the general floor of an acute hospital. Specific aspects of these relatively new systems are the implementation of means for detecting the deteriorating patient amongst others who are progressing, creation of teams and other response units, and means to summon them.