Effects of a medical emergency team on reduction of incidence of and mortality from unexpected cardiac arrests in hospital: Preliminary study

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether earlier clinical intervention by a medical emergency team prompted by clinical instability in a patient could reduce the incidence of and mortality from unexpected cardiac arrest in hospital. Design: A non-randomised, population based study before (1996) and after (1999) introduction of the medical emergency team. Setting: 300 bed tertiary referral teaching hospital. Participants: All patients admitted to the hospital in 1996 (n=19 317) and 1999 (n=22 847). Interventions: Medical emergency team (two doctors and one senior intensive care nurse) attended clinically unstable patients immediately with resuscitation drugs, fluid, and equipment. Response activated ..