NEWTON – A new initiative at Newton Memorial Hospital enables patients or their family members to call for help in the Hospital and receive a response in moments.

Known as the Family Response Initiative, patients or their families can contact the Hospital’s operator at any time and request the Rapid Response Team if they suspect the patient is in crisis.

Newton Memorial Hospital is only the second hospital in New Jersey – and among only 21 nationwide - to implement this initiative.

Newton Memorial Hospital created a Rapid Response Team (RRT) in 2006 and a policy for rapid bedside assessment and assistance in the care of its adult patients. The RRT fielded 89 calls in 2007 and maintained an average response time of three minutes, two minutes better than the team’s goal.

The RRT has become a wonderful component to providing patient-focused care to those who rely on Newton Memorial during their time of need. In a survey of Newton Memorial staff, 98 percent felt the Rapid Response Team has enhanced patient care.

Newton Memorial Hospital decided to take the initiative one step further by allowing family members and/or patients to activate the RRT, thereby empowering patients and their families to be active participants in their care.

“The Rapid Response Team has delivered immediate and impressive results in just two short years,” Newton Memorial Hospital Vice President of Medical Affairs David Lazarus, M.D. said. “We look forward to enhancing patient care by empowering patients and family members to activate this impressive service should they feel a loved one is in crisis. If you do, you can expect rapid treatment at the bedside by caring, dedicated professionals.”