A Rapid Response System (RRS) is a means whereby a designated team of clinicians identifies high-risk patients, responds to early signs of acute deterioration, and brings critical care expertise to the bedside before patients decline into a critical state. Through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s 100,000 Lives Campaign, many hospitals have implemented a RRS with success and report that implementation contributed to decreased rates of mortality and cardiac arrest, as well as a reduction in intensive care unit length of stay.

GNYHA and the United Hospital Fund (UHF) are collaborating with a group of hospitals to implement this project. Funding for a portion of the RRS project is supported by a grant to the GNYHA Foundation by UHF and additional funding is provided by the New York State Department of Health.

GNYHA and UHF support the hospitals participating in the RRS Collaborative through:

• conducting ongoing educational programs;
• establishing an "expert-on-call" system;
• developing a Web-based resource; and
• providing data analysis and reporting.

Participating hospitals will work with GNYHA and UHF to identify which aspects of existing RRS models are most effective among hospitals within the tri-state region. Hospitals participating in the RRS Collaborative will be challenged to adopt practices to drive improvement and further refine the "quality model." 

For information on the RRS Collaborative, go to JENY.