Effective 16 November 2021, the criteria for Code Blue and MET (Medical Emergency Team) calls will be simplified to ensure we have the right team, in the right place, for the right reason.
These criteria apply to any person suffering a medical emergency on site – whether patient, employee, contractor, university staff or visitor, whether they are on a ward or elsewhere.
- Code Blue: to be called when there are no signs of life, as identified by:
- Unconscious (unresponsive)
- Not breathing normally, not moving
- No palpable pulse
- MET Call: to be called in all other medical emergency response situations:
- Must be called for inpatients in a ward setting when they breach MET criteria
- Can be called if concerned about a patient despite normal observations
- Must be called for anyone on site requiring urgent medical attention
A MET Call will be upgraded to a Code Blue by the responding MET team if required.
Why are we making this change?
Reports from responding teams and analysis of our data indicates that the vast majority of incidents don’t require additional support from anaesthetics, security, or other members of the Code Blue response team. Instead, these cases could be managed effectively by the Medical Emergency Team (MET).
The change will ensure that the right team goes to the right place, to provide the care required and is widely supported by the teams who respond to these incidents.
More information
The new criteria for Code Blue and MET calls is available on PROMPT and in the updated emergency code booklets that will be available by each phone from 16 November 2021.
Approved by Carlos Scheinkestel