Identifying the Deteriorating Patient Literature

The issue of identifying the patient at risk of deteriorating is gaining momentum in health care including the recognition that many factors contribute to the failure to rescue a deteriorating patient. One of the Clinical Excellence Commission projects focus on recognition and appropriate management of inpatients, whose condition is deteriorating; "The lack of recognition and appropriate management of inpatients, whose condition is deteriorating, has been identified as a contributing factor for many adverse events worldwide. Review of information gathered through analysis of data from the NSW Incident Information Management System (IIMS) and from Root Cause Analyses and from deliberations of the NSW Department of Health Reportable Incident Review Committee confirmed that this is also a significant issue for the NSW Health system. In NSW there is state-wide agreement that this is a high priority for all Area Health Services (AHS)". See the report Between the Flags Project - The way forward, October 2008, Clinical Excellence Commission.
Joanne Rowley, Nurse Researcher at Coffs Harbour Health Campus has compiled a short up to date list of literature relating to the topic. Contact Joanne at joanne.rowley@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au for a copy.