Study: Rapid response teams not associated with mortality reduction

Implementation of rapid response teams were not associated with a reduction in hospital deaths, according to a study with a large and diverse sample of U.S. hospitals. “Studies are needed to understand best practices for rapid response team implementation to ensure that hospital investment in these teams improves patient outcomes,” the authors concluded. Published in Circulation, the study found that among 56 individual hospitals, implementation of a rapid response team was associated with a lower-than-expected mortality at only four and higher-than-expected mortality at two hospitals. (AHRQ Patient Safety Network article, 10/19/22)