Abstract
The efficacy of decreasing mortality rates with rapid response systems (RRS) have recently been disputed. A problem exists in the lack of knowledge of the efficacy and the most appropriate way to evaluate rapid response systems. The study aims to determine current pediatric response system characteristics and evaluative processes. The project was conducted by reviewing current literature, surveying the dynamics and evaluative measures of rapid response systems of multiple pediatric healthcare institutions and disseminating the data about the evaluative measures to the institutions that participated. The survey response rate was 8% (3 of 36). The survey determined that all participating hospitals have a rapid response team 24 hours a day. Team composition, opinion of pediatric early warning systems and the post rapid response evaluative processes varied among participating hospitals. The project assisted in expanding current knowledge of rapid response teams but overall rapid response system characteristics and processes vary.