Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

General Principles of Medical Emergency Teams

  • Chapter
Medical Emergency Teams

  • 1036 Accesses

Abstract

The theory behind the MET system and the principle that early intervention improves outcome is intuitive. It is considerably easier to resuscitate a patient who is alive rather than one who is dead. Successful implementation of a MET system relies on support from hospital administrators and participation of staff members at all levels and of all disciplines. Introduction of the MET requires careful planning and information sessions that must be repeated on numerous occasions. An ongoing audit of the impact of the system on adverse outcomes, as well as the experiences of the users of the system, must be maintained.

Above all, it should never be forgotten that the goal of the MET system is to improve the quality of patient care by reducing avoidable morbidity and mortality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. McGlynn EA, Asch SM, Adams J, et al. The quality of health care delivery to adults in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:2635–2645.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brennan TA, Leape LL, Laird N, et al. Incidence of adverse events and negligence in hospitalized patients: results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study I. N Engl J Med. 1991;324:370–376.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Wilson RMcL, Runciman WB, Gibberd RW, et al. The quality in Australian health care study. Med J Aust. 1995;163:458–471.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lee TH. A broader concept of medical errors. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:1965–1967.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lee A, Bishop G, Hillman K, et al. The Medical Emergency Team. Anaesth Intensive Care. 1995;23:183–186.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Buist MD, Moore GE, Bernard SA, et al. Effects of a medical emergency team on reduction of incidence of and mortality from unexpected cardiac arrests in hospital: preliminary study. BMJ. 2002;324:387–390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bellomo R, Goldsmith D, Uchino S, et al. A prospective before-and-after trial of a medical emergency team. Med J Aust. 2003;179:283–287.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bristow PJ, Hillman KM, Chey T, et al. Rates of in-hospital arrests, deaths, and intensive care admissions: the effect of a medical emergency team. Med J Aust. 2000;173:236–240.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Salamonson Y, Kariyawasam A, van Heere B, et al. The evolutionary process of Medical Emergency Team (MET) implementation: reduction in unanticipated ICU transfers. Resuscitation. 2001;49:135–141.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bellomo R, Goldsmith D, Uchino S, et al. Prospective controlled trial of effect of medical emergency team on postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. Crit Care Med. 2004;32:916–921.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bellomo R, Goldsmith D, Russell S, Uchino S. Postoperative serious adverse events in a teaching hospital: a prospective study. Med J Aust. 2002;176:216–218.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Buist MD, Jarmolowski E, Burton PR, Bernard SA, Waxman BP, Anderson J. Recognizing clinical instability in hospital patients before cardiac arrest or unplanned admission to intensive care. Med J Aust. 1999;171:22–25.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Franklin C, Mathew J. Developing strategies to prevent in-hospital cardiac arrest: analyzing responses of physicians and nurses in the hours before the event. Crit Care Med. 1994;22:244–247.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Shein RM, Hazday N, Pena M, Ruben BH, Sprung CL. Clinical antecedents to in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. Chest. 1990;98:1388–1392.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Blow O, Magliore L, Claridge JA, et al. the golden hour and the silver day: detection and correction of occult hypoperfusion within 24 hours improves outcome from major trauma. J Trauma. 1999;47:964–969.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Rivers E, Nguyen B, Havstad S, et al. Early goal-directed therapy in the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock. N Engl J Med. 2001;345:1368–1377.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hillman K, Parr, M, Flabouris A, Bishop G, Stewart A. Redefining in-hospital resuscitation: the concept of the medical emergency team. Resuscitation. 2001;48:105–110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Goldhill DR, McNarry AF. Physiological abnormalities in early warning scores are related to mortality in adult patients. Brit J Anaesth. 2004;92:882–884.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hillman KH, Bristow PJ, Chey T, et al. Duration of life-threatening antecedents prior to intensive care admission. Intensive Care Med. 2002;28:1629–1634.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Reilly BM. Physical examination in the care of medical patients: an observational study. Lancet. 2003;362:1100–1105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hodgetts TJ, Kenward G, Vlackonikolis, et al. Incidence, location, and reasons for avoidable in-hospital cardiac arrest in a district general hospital. Resuscitation. 2002;54:115–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia

    Daryl Jones M.D., Rinaldo Bellomo M.D. & Donna Goldsmith M.N.

Authors
  1. Daryl Jones M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rinaldo Bellomo M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Donna Goldsmith M.N.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-3404, USA

    Michael A. DeVita M.D. (Associate Professor of Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine and Associate Medical Director) (Associate Professor of Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine and Associate Medical Director)

  2. UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-3404, USA

    Michael A. DeVita M.D. (Associate Professor of Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine and Associate Medical Director) (Associate Professor of Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine and Associate Medical Director)

  3. The Simpson Centre for Health Services Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, 1871, Australia

    Kenneth Hillman M.D. (Co-Director of Critical Care) (Co-Director of Critical Care)

  4. Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia

    Rinaldo Bellomo M.D. (Director of Intensive Care Research) (Director of Intensive Care Research)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jones, D., Bellomo, R., Goldsmith, D. (2006). General Principles of Medical Emergency Teams. In: DeVita, M.A., Hillman, K., Bellomo, R. (eds) Medical Emergency Teams. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-27921-0_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-27921-0_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-27920-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-27921-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation