The rapid response system and end-of-life care

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the recent observational studies reporting the role of the rapid response team (RRT) in end-of-life care (EOLC) planning for hospitalized patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Initial RRT studies focussed on its role in detecting and preventing avoidable morbidity. However, patients who are in the process of dying will also trigger RRT activation criteria. Single-centre studies from several countries reveal that up to 25% of RRT calls involve patients with a pre-existing limitation of medical therapy (LOMT) and 10% result in new implementation of a new LOMT. A recent seven hospital study revealed that such EOLC RRT calls occur in significantly older patients, who are less l..