In reply: Many thanks to Buist for his comments. He is quite correct in pointing out that we used the wrong reference.1 The correct reference was another study showing that the mortality of patients subject to a rapid response system (RRS) was higher than that for patients in an intensive care unit.2 Our apologies for this error.
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.
- 1. Buist M, Nguyen T, Moore G, et al. Association between clinical abnormal bedside observations and subsequent in-hospital mortality: a prospective study. Resuscitation 2004; 62: 137-141.
- 2. ANZICS-CORE MET dose investigators. Mortality of rapid response team patients in Australia: a multicentre study. Crit Care Resusc 2013; 15: 273-278.
- 3. Flabouris A, Chen J, Hillman K, et al; The MERIT study investigators from the Simpson Centre and the ANZICS Clinical Trials Group. Timing and interventions of emergency teams during the MERIT study. Resuscitation 2010; 81: 25-30.
- 4. Chen J, Bellomo R, Flabouris A, et al; MERIT Study Investigators for the Simpson Centre; ANZICS Clinical Trials Group. The relationship between early emergency team calls and serious adverse events. Crit Care Med 2009; 37: 148-153.
- 5. Chen J, Ou L, Hillman K, et al. Cardiopulmonary arrest and mortality trends, and their association with rapid response system expansion. Med J Aust 2014; 201: 167-170. <MJA full text>
Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.
I am supported by NHMRC Project Grants AP10009916 and APP1020660.
No relevant disclosures.