Healthcare Workers Struggle with Emergency Codes

Workers only matched code words to corresponding emergencies 44 percent of the time.

By HFT Staff


A new study by University of Georgia (UGA) researchers found that many healthcare workers did not accurately identify emergency codes. Researchers tested the ability of healthcare staff to identify their facilities’ codes. Having this knowledge front of mind is critical for responding quickly and appropriately to emergencies. 

“Healthcare facilities have traditionally relied upon code-based notifications to quickly and efficiently alert employees to ongoing emergencies within or affecting the facility,” says Morgan Taylor, the co-author and a doctoral student with UGA’s College of Public Health. 

Not all hospitals use color codes, but those that do use separate code words for each emergency. For example, a “code blue” call is often used to alert all hospital staff that a patient’s heart has unexpectedly stopped or that they have stopped breathing and need to be resuscitated. 

No universal standard exists to assign certain codes to specific emergencies. Prior research in this area has shown significant variation among different hospital emergency code systems. 

Taylor and her co-authors focused on the ability of clinical and non-clinical employees in five Georgia health care facilities to correctly identify their facility’s emergency codes. They also assessed employees’ opinions of emergency alert systems and determined individual factors that enabled more accurate identification of emergency codes. 



February 2, 2023


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Fire at Assisted Living Facility Kills 9, Injures 30

Half of the building’s residents were evacuated through small windows.


North Carolina Children's Health Selects Apex for Campus Location

The groundbreaking is anticipated to happen in 2027.


Designing for Access: Addressing Pharmacy Deserts with Flexible Solutions

Design is an increasingly important consideration for closing the gap in pharmaceutical access.


Baylor Scott & White Health Set to Open New Texas Medical Center 

The new 40-acre campus will offer communal green spaces, more than two miles of trails, health and wellness events and activities for everyone to enjoy.


The Future of Backup Power Systems in Healthcare Facilities

Manufacturers discuss what trends are shaping the future of backup power systems in healthcare.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.