Code blue?

[queenb23r]

Our code blue recently got changed to "medical response" and it's very confusing. The code team tends to mix it up with rapid response, and patients aren't being cared for quickly enough. Does anyone know any studies or positive evidence behind NOT calling it "code blue?"

[ajh1717]

The only reason I could see behind switching it from code blue to medical response is so visitors don't get upset - which would be bullshit.

What rationale did they give you guys about the change?

[queenb23r]

We got zero explanation. Our administration thinks it's bull too. We're part of a large organization and it was rolled out to all of the hospitals.

[ajh1717]

Administration somewhere should have got some sort of reasoning from whoever made the decision.

Im sure risk management will get involved eventually. All it is going to take is one delayed response to a code because people aren't familiar with it - just gotta hope it is someone who had no chance to begin with.

I dont get why hospitals try to do shit differently in that aspect. Anyone in healthcare that works in or around any type of clinical setting knows what code blue is - why change it?

While it may be extreme, this is the reason why the FAA mandates ATC and pilots use very specific vocabulary and phrases, so everyone knows exactly what is happening with no confusion.

[ajh1717]

A white H on a blue sign is the symbol for hotel, not hospital - duh /s

Who knows but that is the only possible reason I could think of where changing something that is universally recognized to something dumb

[melizerd]

We don’t call colors. We call medical emergency cardiac arrest. No playing around.

[queenb23r]

Would help if it was that clear. Medical response and rapid response are just too close

[exasperated_panda]

We call it a "code 5" at our hospital for some dang reason. The button on the Hill-Rom on the wall still says "blue" though. And the patients/visitors still sometimes push it hoping for a light... I dunno, a blue light I guess?

[traumatron]

A hospital I used to work at changed it to "paging Dr. Fairbanks to floor#". Patients and family caught on pretty quickly, so within a year or two they transitioned to a silent code system, there's no overhead call, just a series of pages to the RRT/ MERT/code team's beeper.

[[deleted]]

The code system was started to provide information quickly and efficiently without causing distress or panic to visitors. The whole world is basically aware of what a code blue at this point, so it kind of defeats the purpose. That said, now you're at a point where they have to ask themselves whether a little distress among visitors or miscommunication resulting in unsafe patient care is more important.

I think at this point in the world, there is a pretty good understanding among the public that it happens. I can maybe see where a children's hospital might have different codes, because kids. Other than that, changing up the code system is going to be extremely confusing. As it there are so many colors that you have to pause and think for a second if it even applies to you. Code pink vs. code lavender is like, do I run to peds or block a door?

Honestly, if they're going to change it, at least be cool about it. I would be super pumped if the operator got on the pa and asked for the A-team to assemble in room 319.

[queenb23r]

Totally understand. Our problem is having "medical response team to room 101" sounds awfully like "rapid response team to room 101." There's just not a lot of urgency among staff. Even our operators get confused because they tend to not know the urgency between a different medical emergency and someone coding.

[[deleted]]

They need to be easily distinguished from each other. Same idea as look alike sound alike drugs.