Question

1.What does escalation mean in health care? Give an example of

escalation policy or process that you came across during your
clinical placement last semester or in your regular workplace if
applicable

Answer 1

Escalation in health care refers to the process of raising the level of patient care when needed, such as activating a rapid response team in response to deteriorating patient conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Escalation in healthcare refers to the process in which health professionals communicate and transfer care of a patient when a change in the patient’s condition requires a higher level of expertise or resources.

An example of an escalation policy might involve a nurse recognizing that a patient's vital signs are deteriorating and activating the hospital’s rapid response team (RRT). The RRT is a group of healthcare professionals with advanced clinical skills that respond quickly to assess and manage the patient

During my clinical placement last semester, the hospital had a clear escalation protocol. When a patient showed signs of acute distress, the attending nurse would initiate the ‘escalate’ process by calling the designated emergency number and stating their observations, along with the patient’s current condition. A team of health professionals would then rapidly convene to assist with stabilizing the patient and provide the necessary higher level of care.