Efficacy of a rapid response team on reducing the incidence and mortality of unexpected cardiac arrests.

Background: Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) assess patients during early phases of deterioration to reduce patient morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of earlier medical intervention by a RRT prompted by clinical instability in patients to reduce the incidence of and mortality from unexpected cardiac arrest at our hospital.

Patients And Methods: A nonrandomized, population-based study before 2008 and after 2010 introduction of the Rapid Response Teams in a 300 bed private hospital.