Code Assist: When Your Loved One
Needs Help Stat
Family members soon will be able to take a more active
role in the care of their loved ones at Southcoast
Hospitals. Beginning January 1, friends and family can
call a Code Assist (Code A) for immediate help when
a patient has a serious change in medical condition.
To call a Code A, dial “HELP” (4357) from any hospital telephone. You will be asked for the patient’s room number, your concern, the patient’s name and your name. Signs will be posted in all patient rooms and inpatient areas, giving directions on how and when to call a Code A.
When to Call a Code A
Family members should call a Code A when they notice a serious medical change in the patient. Examples include difficulty breathing, seizures or sudden confusion.Calling a Code A mobilizes one of the hospital’s Rapid Response Teams. This is a team of multidisciplinary specialists. They quickly gather at a patient’s bedside to assess your loved one’s condition and decide the best way to proceed.
“In terms of patient quality of care and safety, the advantage of having this team is early response,” said Donna Teixeira, RN, Nurse Manager of the Intensive Care Unit & Critical Care Unit at Charlton Memorial Hospital. This early intervention can prevent a condition from becoming worse, Teixeira explained.
Joint Commission Expands Regulations
The Joint Commission mandated that hospitals have rapid response systems in place by 2008. The Joint Commission is a nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies more than 15,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs. Southcoast’s Rapid Response Teams have been in place since 2006, responding to calls placed by nursing staff.The Joint Commission also has required hospitals to have a way for families to call for a Rapid Response Team by January 2009.
“Code A will add another layer of safety for patients by extending direct access to this team to the patient and family,” Teixeira said. “This demonstrates our commitment to patient safety as it assures any patient situation that is concerning will receive immediate attention.”
