When introducing early warning tools and systems, as with any improvement opportunity, it's important to consider design, implementation and evaluation processes that include all relevant team members. Meaningful consultation, and contribution is key to implementing and sustaining improvement. The following tools and resources will assist you in recognizing and responding to the deteriorating patient condition in a general care setting.

Resources to share with your patients

• Symptoms of sepsis

Additional Provider Resources

• Rapid Response Team Getting Started Kit
• National Early Warning Score Guidelines
• Safety Is Personal - Partnering with Patients and Families for the Safest Care
  
• The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
• HIROC Risk Reference Sheets
  

Need a helping hand?

If you are interested in learning more about early warning systems using an electronic health or medical record, the teams at either Hamilton Health Sciences via Dr. Alison Fox-Robichaud (foxrob@hhsc.ca) or Dr. Michael Miletin at William Osler Health System (Michael.Miletin@williamoslerhs.ca) would be happy to speak with you.

TeamSTEPPS Canada ™

TeamSTEPPS is an acronym for Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety. TeamSTEPPS is an evidenced based teamwork system program developed jointly by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to improve institutional collaboration and communication relating to patient safety. The Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) was designated as the national coordinating body for TeamSTEPPS CanadaTM.  In collaboration with partners, including the Health Quality Council of Alberta, TeamSTEPPS Canada TM has been adopted and adapted by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) and made available to the Canadian healthcare field.

For more information including resources and events, please click on this link or contact us at info@cpsi-icsp.ca.