Asian Pacific Journal of Nursing

“SECONDS SAVE LIVES” - QUICK RESUSCITATION TEAM (QRT): A SPECIALIZED NURSING SERVICE

Usha Banerjee, Jiji Dias, Hemlata*, Simmy Rajan

hemlata_a@apollohospitalsdelhi.com

Usha Banerjee, Jiji Dias, Hemlata*, Simmy Rajan

Patient safety is the first priority for healthcare. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is dealing with an increasing number of people who have complex problems and multiple comorbidities. Average no. of cardiac arrest in our hospital is 100/ month out of which 48% of all deaths attributed to patients who were admitted to a non-intensive care unit and were not expected to die at the time of admission. 70% of patients show evidence of respiratory deterioration within eight hours of arrest Staffs’ were Failure to rescue” (inability to recognize early warning signs of deterioration in a patient’s condition, or acting too late to prevent a cardiac arrest) the patients. Henceforth Quick Response Team (QRT) has created with 5 Nurses, available- 24X7 to deliver critical care expertise in response to grave clinical deterioration of a patient located outside the ICU. The project goal is to achieve 100% patient safety with the objectives of decrease the number of cardiopulmonary- arrests that occur in the wards and hospital mortality and increase patient and consultant- satisfaction. Effective QRT’s team implementation led to following outcomes-turnaround time to manage cardiac arrest was reduced from 120 minutes to 90 minutes, increased patient and consultant satisfaction, reduction in emergency ICU’s admissions and medication errors. This project certified for green belt in six sigma and evaluating team suggested for advancement to black belt and generalized in all hospitals of Apollo group. It proved to be a good strategy for improving patient safety. It won Hospital Management Asia (HMA) award, AIQA (Apollo Innovation and Quality award and best Six sigma best project award in 2015 among all Apollo group of hospitals. It has been continuously making a difference in our patient’s lives.