Pembroke Regional Hospital has launched a new rapid response initiative aimed at improving care for inpatients showing early signs of clinical deterioration.
The program, known as the Rapid Assessment of Critical Events (RACE) team, is designed to provide specialized intervention before a patient’s condition becomes critical. Staffed by ICU-trained nurses, the team assesses and treats patients when frontline staff identify concerning changes such as shifts in blood pressure, breathing difficulties or medication-related issues.
Hospital officials say the initiative is intended to prevent medical emergencies, reduce complications and, in some cases, avoid admission to the intensive care unit.
The program is supported by more than $500,000 in funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Health. It is currently in a pilot phase, operating daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with plans to expand to 24-hour coverage in June.
The RACE team includes critical care registered nurses who carry a dedicated phone and respond throughout the hospital. They work alongside respiratory therapists, physicians and intensivists to deliver care using established medical directives.
In addition to responding to emergencies, the team follows up with patients during the first 48 hours after discharge from the ICU — a period considered high risk — to help ensure recovery is progressing safely.
Sabine Mersmann, president and CEO of Pembroke Regional Hospital, said the program represents a significant step forward for patient safety and staff support.
She said the initiative allows critical care expertise to be delivered wherever it is needed in the hospital, helping ensure patients receive appropriate care at the right time.
Mersmann also credited Natalie Needham-Nethercott for helping shape the program’s clinical framework, calling the effort highly collaborative.
Hospital officials say the RACE program is expected to improve patient outcomes, enhance workflow efficiency and strengthen collaboration among staff. Similar models have already been implemented in other Ontario hospitals.
The hospital developed specific criteria and staff resources to guide when the team should be activated.
Officials say the initiative extends the reach of intensive care services beyond the ICU, bringing specialized support directly to patients across inpatient units.
(Steve Berard)
