General Ward 'Rapid Response System' Phase 3 Pilot Project Expanded to 55 Sites

Strengthening Patient Safety Management System through Efficient Utilization of Medical Personnel and Equipment

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 31st that starting from the 1st of next month, it will implement the 'Rapid Response System Phase 3 Pilot Project' to prevent unexpected deterioration of conditions such as cardiopulmonary arrest and multiple organ failure in general ward inpatients in advance.

The Rapid Response System, which has undergone Phase 1 and 2 pilot projects since 2019, is a patient safety management system that detects patients showing warning signs among general ward inpatients early and prevents deterioration by immediate intervention from the rapid response team. Institutions participating in the Rapid Response System must deploy personnel such as doctors and nurses and equip devices to respond quickly to patients' risk situations. The government has been conducting Phase 1 and 2 pilot projects since 2019.

In this pilot project, the system was improved by securing flexibility in personnel management and realizing the composition of medical equipment, considering the actual operational conditions in medical settings, so that medical personnel can be used efficiently while maintaining patient safety.

Due to this optimization of medical resource management, the number of participating institutions in the pilot project has expanded from the existing 45 sites (32 tertiary general hospitals, 13 general hospitals) to 55 sites (38 tertiary general hospitals, 17 general hospitals). Currently, two institutions that do not meet some criteria must fulfill all requirements within the next six months to receive final approval.

Patients admitted to hospitals participating in the pilot project can continuously monitor whether they are in a high-risk condition if they wish, and if warning signs are detected, they will receive immediate initial treatment from the rapid response team or ward medical staff.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare expects that through the expansion of this pilot project, more patients will benefit from continuous monitoring and early intervention, contributing to improved medical quality such as reduced ICU admission rates, decreased in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest incidence, shortened length of stay, and also to medical cost reduction.

When the Phase 3 pilot project is completed by the end of 2027, a plan to transition to the main project based on the performance evaluation will be considered. Upon promotion to the main project, methods to strengthen performance support will be reviewed to protect patient safety and respond quickly to risk situations while allowing more flexible personnel management tailored to medical institution conditions, such as doctor-nurse team care.

Lee Jung-kyu, Director of the Health Insurance Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "Through the expansion of the pilot project, we will be able to provide safer and higher-quality inpatient services to more patients," adding, "We will strengthen patient safety and ensure appropriate compensation for the efforts of medical staff."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.