Behavioral Emergencies
Policy Schmolicy!
Paging Dr Beat-Emergency
Not on My Watch
100

My patient's behavior is becoming increasingly agitated and I need help de-escalating the situation so I activate this emergency response.

What is BEST (Behavioral Emergency Response Team)?

100

The Rounding Nurse and a Respiratory Therapist Respond to this type of emergency call

RRT/Rapid Response

100

You call this resource at 6-0666 with a clinical question or concern

Who is the Rounding Nurse (704-4460-0666)

Message via Rover to CMC Rounding Nurse

100

This is the acronym used to quickly assess for signs and symptoms of stroke

What is BEFAST?

Balance off/dizziness, Eye/vision changes, Facial Droop, One sided weakness of arm or leg, Speech changes

200

You use this phone number to activate a BEST (behavioral emergency response team).

What is 5-3333 (704-355-3333)?

200

ICU nurses, Doctors/APPs, Respiratory Therapists, Security, and Spiritual Care arrive to these type of emergency calls.

What is a Code Blue?

Nurses- MICU Rounding nurses, DHU nurse, MICU Charge nurse

Doctors- medical residents, ICU attending

Respiratory Therapists, Security, Spiritual Care, House Supervisor

200

You call this number to activate a Code Blue if the Code Blue button is not available or in the area

What is 5-2345 (704-355-2345)

200

You find an unresponsive patient who is pulseless and not breathing, these are the top 3 priorities

1. Activate Code Blue

2. Start compressions

3. Get the defibrillator and place pads on the patient

300

My patient is unable to be de-escalated and is now verbally threatening to assault staff so I call Security to activate this emergency.

What is a Threat of Violence?

704-355-3333

300

These are 3 criteria for activating an adult RRT at CMC

300

Your patient just developed a right arm weakness and slurred speech that is new with your assessment. You call this number to activate in-house Code Stroke?

What is 5-2345 to call RRT?

300

These are the items I remove from the code cart and bring in the room during a cardiac arrest

What are the defibrillator, pads, the BVM, and the backboard?

400

After a behavioral emergency, the team places this symbol on the door so other staff are aware.

What is a Blue Star? 

400

After you activate a Rapid Response, these are 2 people you should call.

Who are the Rounding Nurse and Attending Provider?

RRT Policy CMC: "Additionally, we encourage our staff to call the Rounding Nurse at 704-446-0666 (6-0666) and notify the attending physician ASAP."

Rationale: Delays in RRT paging system, attending provider is not notified with RRT paging.

400

Your patient develops new, acute chest pain. You activate RRT and obtain 12 lead ECG. It reads ***Acute MI*** so the Rounding Nurse activates this process by paging the internal Rover team.

What is Code STEMI?

"For an in-house patient with complaints of chest pain call the rapid response team and prepare to obtain 12 lead ECG immediately."

The Rounding Nurse activates Code STEMI during the rapid response. (Internal Rover team activation)

400

This is a sign of respiratory arrest and requires Code Blue activation and starting BLS

What is agonal breathing?

Shallow gasps. Irregular pattern of breathing characterized by gasping, snorting, or gurgling. Indication of an emergency and impending cardiac arrest.