Pediatric Rapid Response Systems

Pediatric rapid response systems are an integral part of modern healthcare. Hospitals provide care to pediatric patients with complex health conditions; to those recovering from medical and surgical treatments, with acute traumatic injuries and for those born prematurely or with other life-threatening conditions. With their inherent appeal, rapid response systems have grown. Most of the work in contemporary rapid response systems is not rapid: vigilance, flexible escalation, severity of illness assessment, and consultation should occur at a routine pace. Care is provided in community and specialized hospitals—thus, effective rapid response systems must operate within and between both—as exemplified in neonatal networks. One conspicuous “team” need not define a hospital’s rapid response system and may not be necessary in smaller hospitals. In larger hospitals with dedicated rapid response teams, the services provided have evolved—from cardiac arrest prevention to frontline education, end-of-life care, and disaster response. We describe the rationale, definitions, purposes, elements, and impacts of contemporary pediatric rapid response systems and provide guidance for teams using the KOTSAKIS approach. Future opportunities include identifying beneficial elements and universal metrics that move expectations beyond zero cardiopulmonary arrests.