Health system  improves timely use of defibrillation

Time to first shock is one of four metrics in the American Heart Association resuscitation program. In 2018, Florida-based Orlando Health almost always achieved three of the four metrics, but only provided timely defibrillation to patients exhibiting ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia 42% of the time. An initiative to identify specific roles for care team members and train them through an online mock code simulation improved the timely use of defibrillation and empowered nurses to confidently respond during code events. The effort is described in the December issue of Critical Care Nurse. (Newswise news release, 11/22/21)