Evaluating the Impact of Early Warning Score and Critical Care Outreach Program in Quaternary Care Referral Hospital in Urban India- Retrospective Comparative Study

Objective: The objective is to evaluate the impact of early warning score (EWS) and critical care outreach programs in patients transferred out of multidisciplinary intensive care unit (MICU) in the reduction of unplanned returns to MICU within 48 h. Methodology: A retrospective comparative study to evaluate the effectiveness of critical care outreach program in reducing unplanned returns to MICU within 48 h. The initiation of a clinical outreach program is to ensure continuity of care for patients transferred out of MICU. EWS was also strengthened in wards to identify early deterioration and initiate interventions. ICU return rates and code blue rates in MICU shift-outs were compared for pre- and postinitiation of the critical care outreach program. Results and Conclusion: There was a statistically significant ( P < 0.01) reduction in the ICU return rate 4.17%–2.67% and a sustained reduction of code blue activations in patients who shifted out of MICU during January 2023–December 2023.