Early warning systems: problems, pragmatics and potential

Jennifer McGaughey, Catherine Plowright, Collette Laws-Chapman

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Symposium Chair: Dr Jennifer McGaughey

Title: Early Warning Systems: problems, pragmatics and potential

Early Warning Systems (EWS) provide a mechanism for staff to recognise, refer and manage deteriorating patients on general hospital wards. Implementation of EWS in practice has required considerable change in the delivery of critical care across hospitals. Drawing their experience of these changes the authors will demonstrate the problems and potential of using EWS to improve patient outcomes.

The first paper (Dr Jennifer McGaughey: Early Warning Systems: what works?) reviews the research evidence regarding the factors that support or constrain the implementation of Early Warning System (EWS) in practice. These findings explain those processes which impact on the successful achievement of patient outcomes. In order to improve detection and standardise practice National EWS have been implemented in the United Kingdom. The second paper (Catherine Plowright: The implementation of the National EWS in a District General Hospital) focuses on the process of implementing and auditing a National EWS. This process improvement is essential to contribute to future collaborative research and collection of robust datasets to improve patient safety as recommended by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP 2012). To successfully implement NEWS in practice requires strategic planning and staff education. The practical issues of training staff is discussed in the third paper. This paper (Collette Laws-Chapman: Simulation as a modality to embed the use of Early Warning Systems) focuses on using simulation and structured debrief to enhance learning in the early recognition and management of deteriorating patients. This session emphasises the importance of cognitive and social skills developed alongside practical skills in the simulated setting.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2015
EventEuropean Federation of Critical Care Nurses Association Congress 2015 - Valencia, Spain
Duration: 29 Jan 201531 Jan 2015

Conference

ConferenceEuropean Federation of Critical Care Nurses Association Congress 2015
Abbreviated titleEfCCNa 2015
Country/TerritorySpain
CityValencia
Period29/01/201531/01/2015

Keywords

  • early warning systems

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