Rapid respiratory response team - The first two years' experience
Williams JG., Furnival B., Meek J., Furlong S., Roberts G., Smith R.
Our hospital based rapid respiratory response team has previously reported its early experience of community respiratory care and its success in preventing some hospital admissions for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Thorax 1998; 53:Supp 4:A70) We wish to present our data from two years' experience which also includes data on patients with malignant disease. 341 referrals were received for 314 patients from 1.12.97 to 1.12.99. 210(61%) were from general practitioners. GP Referrals Inpatient Referrals Non- Malignant Non- Malignant Malignant Disease Malignant Disease Disease Disease Number of Referrals 175 35 98 5 Mean Age (years±SD) 72±11 66±11 70±13 69.6±10 Gender (M:F) 82:93 19:17 50:48 2:3 Median number of Visits (Range) 7 (4-121) 4 (3-42) 7 (3-56) 8 (4-38) Median number of telephone calls (Range) 3 (2-80) 3 3 (0-25) 3 (2-10) Chest readmissions while in scheme 10 (5.7%) 2 (5.6%) 0 1 (20%) Only 62 (18%) patients with non-malignant disease were readmitted with respiratory disorders after discharge from the team of which 30 patients (48%) were admitted within the first three months. The readmission rates for respiratory disease while within the scheme and post discharge compare favourably with the results of others. The popularity of the scheme with primary care teams and patients alike increases. There is a local desire to include non acute respiratory care in team's remit.