Patients’ simple vital signs are a highly reliable predictor of life-threatening clinical events
At a time when hospital staff are becoming increasingly dependent on new technologies, the review by Cretikos et al1 entitled “Respiratory rate: the neglected vital sign” is refreshing. It is a timely reminder that understanding, documenting and acting on changes in patients’ simple vital signs are of fundamental importance to clinical outcomes.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
Michael Buist is a director and shareholder of Patientrack (MKM Consulting, Canberra), an electronic system for monitoring patients’ vital signs and issuing alerts to appropriate clinicians.