Download - Early Warning Score (EWS) & Observations
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Excellence in specialist and community healthcare
Early Warning Score (EWS) & Observations
For the deteriorating adult
Junior Doctor Induction Program.
August 2018
Dr Jonathan Aron, Intensive Care Consultant On behalf of the Deteriorating Adults Group
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Overview
What is EWS?
Why is it important?
What is the process?
What observations and how?
How do I calculate it?
What do I do with the EWS?
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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“A physiological point scoring system that
efficiently identifies and should trigger an
appropriate response to patients who present with or develop acute illness.”
Royal College of Physicians (2012) National Early Warning Score (NEWS).
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Why is it important?
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Why is it important?
“Early recognition and response of
deterioration improves patient
safety and outcomes.”
(Resus Council 2015)
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There is no formal outreach team for acute admissions!
You are the eyes, ears, hands and
advocates for your patients whilst on the ward!
(you will be pleased to know there is a very proactive
intensive care team and a cardiac arrest team)
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Why is it Important?
Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
How does the right
person get to see the right
medical personnel at
the right time?
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Risk Stratification
Risk stratification is a tool for identifying— and
predicting—which patients are at high risk—or likely to
be at high risk—and prioritising the management of their
care in order to prevent worse outcomes
Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Why is it important?
Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Appropriate and Timely Treatment by
most appropriate member of staff
Identification and safety Appropriate resource allocation: staff and location
Identification of the acutely unwell patient requiring urgent attention
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A monitoring tool
Is not a treatment!
It is only as useful as the person/people using it
Needs to be:
Useful (sensitive and specific)
Used on the correct population
Used correctly (calculated correctly)
Interpreted correctly
Acted upon correctly
Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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The Chart
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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The Chart
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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The Chart
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Observations
Complete Set!
Temperature
Heart Rate
Blood Pressure (Systolic Scores)
Respiratory Rate
Peripheral Oxygen Saturations
Flow Rate
AVPU/New Confusion
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Calculating the EWS
Each physiological
observation will give
you a score from 0 – 3
Add them all together
to give you a score
from 0 – 21
Example:
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Variable Value Score
Temp 37.4 0
HR 97 1
BPS 95 2
RR 24 2
Sats 95 1
FR RA 0
AVPU A 0
Total 6
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Frequency & Spacing
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Frequency Indication
Continuous/quarter-hourly
nEWS > 7
Hourly nEWS 5 – 6 (or 3 in one)
4 Hourly nEWS 1 - 4
12 hourly nEWS 0
Post - op ¼ hourly for one hour (or until sedation has worn off and the patient is verbally responsive) ½ hourly for one hour 1 hourly for two hours 4 hourly until the patients’ observation return to baseline
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What next?
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Record and Report (HCAs) • Recognise and Escalate (Nurses)
• Attend and treat (Nurses and Doctors)
ST4 + REVIEW ICU REVIEW Medic REVIEW
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Let’s take an example…
Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
98/55 (68) NIBP (13:45)
98 % O2 Sats
Lead II 98/min
36.6 oC Temp
14:15 Male Patient
What is the nEWS Score?
Are you worried?
Resp rate 18
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Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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What information is missing?
A complete NEWS!
ABCDE assessment
Review of observations trend
History and notes review
Comprehensive examination
Review of investigations Impression
Plan
Watch and wait/further investigations
Do something (and review to see if successful)
Escalate
Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
98/55 (68) NIBP (13:45)
98 % O2 Sats
Lead II
36.6 oC Temp
14:45 Male Patient
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More information...
172/95 (78) NIBP (12:45)
98 % O2 Sats
Lead II 66/min
36.6 oC Temp
12:45 Male Patient
98/55 (62) NIBP (13:45)
98 % O2 Sats
Lead II 98/min
36.6 oC Temp
13:45 Male Patient
78/45 (52) NIBP (13:45)
94 % O2 Sats
Lead II 128/min
36.6 oC Temp
14:45 Male Patient
Resp rate 40
Resp rate 18
Resp rate 14
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How to communicate your findings?
SBAR S=Situation (a concise statement of the problem)
B=Background (pertinent and brief information related to the situation)
A=Assessment (analysis and considerations of options — what you found/think)
R=Recommendation (action requested/recommended — what you want)
A is also for action appropriate to your skill mix and location!!
http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/sbartoolkit.aspx
Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Messages
nEWS is a vital tool to identify patients who are
deteriorating and unwell It is an excellent rapid, inter-professional communication
tool
Be aware of its limitations!
It is only one part of the story!
As the doctor called to review a patient with a high score remember:
• You are responsible and have ownership of that
individual – go and review in person!
• Remember your training: ABCDE, history, examination, interpretation, plan!
• Escalate appropriately and early – everyone is very happy to see patients before they become critically unwell
Presentation title / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Any Questions?
? EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Summary
Record and Report (HCAs)
Recognise and Escalate (Nurses)
Review, treat and escalate (Doctors)
Complete set of data at an appropriate frequency.
Complete information is required to make good
decisions!
Document your thought processes
Call for assistance early!
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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References
Resuscitation Council (2015) Immediate Life Support. 3rd
Ed. London, RCUK.
Royal College of Physicians (2012) National Early
Warning Score (NEWS). London, RCP.
St George’s University NHS Foundation Trust (2017)
Adult Observations Policy. Available online: [add link to
intranet]
http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/sbartoolkit.aspx
EWS / St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust