Code Blue / Rapid Response

Code Blue/Rapid Response

 

  • The Code Team at UIHC consists of 2 senior medicine residents, a medicine intern, a surgical resident, and an anesthesia resident.

  • The Code Team at VAMC consists of a medicine senior and medicine intern. Anesthesia staff and a surgery resident are also part of the team; they are in house during business hours and on home pager during off-hours. The MOD is always available and can be paged to come to a code.

  • If you are the first one to arrive, assess the patient and start the ABCs of ACLS. The seniors will be there soon.

  • Think of ABC — 5B’s — D:

    • Airway — do you need one?

    • Breathing — bag-mask ventilation

    • Circulation — BP, pulse, IV access

    • Bed board — remove and place under patient

    • Box — crash cart, monitor

    • Bucket — suction

    • Blood — ABG, accucheck, STAT labs

    • Back-up — have someone call your senior and the code team

    • Destination — arrange for transfer to an ICU

  • Always leave an Event or Code Note in the chart for all significant overnight events, including patient transfers to an ICU, rapid responses, and codes.

  • Use the EPIC templates to write event notes after every Code Blue or Rapid Response. These can be found by changing the note type to “Active Issue/Provider Note”. You can then use F2 to access templates for Rapid Response, Code Blood, and Death Notes (among others).

Previous Medical Students

Connect with Us!

University of Iowa © 2023. All Rights Reserved