One of the most important factors in caring for sick patients is being able to summon help immediately when a patient is in need. At YKHC, we have two teams that can be called for sick patients. The Code Blue team can be called when a patient is not breathing or does not have a pulse. The Rapid Response team can be called when a patient is deteriorating quickly, needs more help than is currently available, and is still breathing and has a pulse. No one should ever hesitate to activate either of these teams. We are always happy to help! There will never be negative consequences for calling a Code Blue or a Rapid Response – when in doubt, call for help!

We are improving the process to activate these systems! Currently, to activate a Code Blue or a Rapid Response, two things are needed: an overhead announcement on the public address system and a message through Tiger Connect. Many steps are required, and we worry that this process is too complicated.

Coming soon, this process will change. We are upgrading an existing system to be even better! The button panels currently in patient rooms will be changed to include “Code Blue,” “Rapid Response,” and “Code Gray.” These buttons will tie directly into the hospital-wide public address system and will be programmed for location.

Here are some examples of how it will work:

• A family member visiting a patient in inpatient room 115 collapses and stops breathing. The bedside nurse presses the button in that room, triggering an announcement to the entire hospital stating, “Code Blue, Third Floor Inpatient, Room 115.”
• A patient admitted to room 6 on OB begins to deteriorate rapidly. There are other deliveries happening at the same time. The team determines they need more help at the bedside. The button in room 6 is pressed, triggering an announcement to the entire hospital stating, “Rapid Response, OB, Room 6.”

The new system will be implemented in two phases. First, the existing buttons will be upgraded. When that is complete, new button panels will be installed in necessary locations (including Outpatient Clinic and the security stations). Each department will be notified when they have been linked to the new system.

Until then, please continue to follow the steps on the placard, “How to Call a Rapid Response or Code Blue“, as shown below.

Stay tuned for more details, including some exciting new updates from Behavioral Health and Psychiatry on the Code Gray team! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at CodeBlue_RRT@ykhc.org.

–Leslie Herrmann & Peek Ehlinger, Chairs of Code Blue Committee

Please continue to use current process, noted below, until further notice.