The Medical Emergency Team

Anaesth Intensive Care. 1995 Apr;23(2):183-6. doi: 10.1177/0310057X9502300210.

Abstract

The concept of a Medical Emergency Team was developed in order to rapidly identify and manage seriously ill patients at risk of cardiopulmonary arrest and other high-risk conditions. The aim of this study was to describe the utilization and outcome of Medical Emergency Team interventions over a one-year period at a teaching hospital in South Western Sydney. Data was collected prospectively using a standardized form. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation occurred in 148/522 (28%) calls. Alerting the team using the specific condition criteria occurred in 253/522 (48%) calls and on physiological/pathological abnormality criteria in 121/522 (23%) calls. Survival rate to hospital discharge following cardiopulmonary arrest was low (29%), compared with other medical emergencies (76%).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • APACHE
  • Apnea / therapy
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* / statistics & numerical data
  • Critical Care
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Heart Arrest / therapy
  • Hospital Units
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Staff, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • New South Wales / epidemiology
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Discharge
  • Status Epilepticus / therapy
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome