The effect of a critical care outreach service and an early warning scoring system on respiratory rate recording on the general wards.

AIM: To determine whether the implementation of a Reading-Modified Early Warning Scoring (R-MEWS) system, is associated with an increased recording of respiratory rate (RR) in hospital inpatients, and whether the presence of a critical care outreach (CCO) service has a further impact on the recording of patient's vital signs. METHOD: Five annual point prevalence surveys of all adult, non-obstetric acute inpatients (n=2638) in two Hospitals (A and B) were carried out between 2001 and 2005. The R-MEWS system was implemented incrementally in both hospitals to include all study group patients, but a CCO service was only available in Hospital A. Data were collected on numbers of patients, routinely documented physiological observations and R-MEW score. RESULTS: Respiratory rate (RR) recording increased from 6.0% in the first survey to 77.9% in the last, which correlated with the incremental implementation of the R-MEWS system. Hospital A that had the CCO service showed a greater increase in RR recording than Hospital B with no CCO service. CONCLUSION: The introduction of an early warning scoring (EWS) was associated with improved respiratory rate recording, which may have been further enhanced by the presence of a CCO service.

Early discharge of patients with pulmonary embolism: a two-phase observational study.

The aim of the present study was to assess whether patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) could be managed as outpatients after early discharge from hospital using low molecular weight heparin instead of remaining as in-patients until effective oral anticoagulation was achieved. Phase 1 of the study identified criteria for the safe discharge of selected patients; phase 2 treated a cohort of low-risk patients with PE as outpatients with tinzaparin using existing deep venous thrombosis services. In phase 1, 127 (56.4%) of 225 patients were considered unsuitable for outpatient management. Reasons included: admission for another medical reason; additional monitoring or requirement for oxygen; bleeding disorders; previous PE/further PE while on warfarin; co-existing major deep venous thrombosis; likelihood of poor compliance; significant immobility; and pregnancy. In phase 2, 157 patients with PE received outpatient anticoagulation therapy. There were no deaths, bleeding or recurrent thromboembolic events during acute treatment with low molecular weight heparin. The median (range) length of hospital stay was 1.0 (1-4) day, with a median saving of 5.0 (1-42) bed-days per patient. Patients were highly satisfied with outpatient management; 144 (96.6%) indicated that they would prefer treatment as outpatients for a subsequent pulmonary embolism. Early discharge and outpatient management of pulmonary embolism appears safe and acceptable in selected low-risk patients, and can be implemented using existing outpatient deep venous thrombosis services.