In response to your question regarding the financial or cost-saving aspect of our implementation of a rapid response team, our study was about patient-centered care and early intervention, not cost savings. The cost-saving aspect would be another study to prove the business aspect of the rapid response team.

When we implemented a rapid response team at our hospital, our goal was to show a decrease in the amount of codes outside the critical care areas and to also show a decrease in our overall mortality rates. According to our study, we were successful in showing a decrease in the amount of codes but were not able to demonstrate a decrease in our overall mortality rates as stated in the article. So unfortunately, I am not able to provide any additional information regarding the question you asked concerning costs.

Jenny Jolley, MSN, RN, CCRN, APRN, BC

The editor would like to encourage readers to write letters to the editor about the articles in DCCN or about any topic of interest to critical care nurses. Letters should be sent to Vickie Miracle, RN, EdD, CCRN, CCNS, CCRC, electronically at [email protected]. Also, letters can be mailed to the editor at 424 Eastgate Village Wynde, Louisville, KY 40223. If you mail your letter, please send a hard copy of the letter as well as a diskette containing the letter.