Rapid Response System in the Emergency Department

Recognising and responding to deteriorating patients is the cornerstone of emergency care. Whilst rapid response systems (RRSs) have been in place on hospital wards for decades, the use of local RRS in emergency departments (EDs) is increasing and the use of both aggregate scoring systems and single-parameter systems has been reported. In this chapter, the profile of clinical deterioration in ED patients is described, and the current state of research related to systems for recognition and response to deteriorating ED patients is critiqued. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the patient, health system and economic outcomes and implications of deterioration during ED care.