Journal of patient safety
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Journal of patient safety · Jun 2010
Single-parameter early warning criteria to predict life-threatening adverse events.
Early warning criteria ("criteria"), used to activate rapid response system (RRS) teams, may improve patient outcomes by predicting life-threatening adverse events--urgent intensive care unit (ICU) transfers and cardiac arrests. ⋯ The early warning conditions used to activate RRS teams were only fair predictors of acute deterioration, although early signs of respiratory failure during routine monitoring were strongly associated with future life-threatening adverse events. Improved respiratory monitoring may improve outcomes from RRS interventions.