Pediatric Rapid Response Systems: Redirection of Care

Pediatric rapid response teams (RRT) play many roles during a patient evaluation on hospital wards, sometimes including discussions about appropriate goals of care. RRT’s may be asked to evaluate patients facing life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses and may recommend a potential re-direction of care towards a palliative approach when clinically indicated and in line with a family’s goals. In this chapter, we review the responsibilities and associated challenges that arise in assessing goals of care in acute situations, outline an approach to such conversations, and offer suggested language for supporting patients and families making difficult decisions.