Managing Patient Deterioration Outside of the ICU

Background

When patients who are hospitalized on medical floors — i.e., outside of intensive care units (ICUs) — become critically ill, clinicians and the hospital system must respond efficiently and effectively. The SCCM offers evidence-based recommendations and guidance regarding recognition of, and an expediently mobilized response to, deteriorating hospitalized patients outside of the ICU.

Key Recommendations

• Vital signs: When a medical floor patient exhibits any cause for concern, staff should immediately acquire a new, complete set of vital signs and report substantial abnormalities to appropriate clinicians urgently.

• Rapid response team (RRT): For a deteriorating non-ICU pa…