OHRH Launches Therapeutic Response Team to Improve Patient Care

Owensboro Health Regional Hospital launched a pioneering Therapeutic Response Team (TRT) trial on its Ortho-Neuro Medical unit on May 13, 2024 in a significant move to enhance patient care and safety. The TRT initiative introduces a multidisciplinary support system dedicated to collaborating with frontline nursing staff to deliver patient-centered care in actual and potential behavioral situations.

The introduction of the TRT is a testament to Owensboro Health’s commitment to innovative healthcare solutions and its proactive approach to addressing the complexities of patient care, especially those with behavioral health needs.

 This program, aims to provide round-the-clock assistance to the nursing teams through behavioral health expertise. It focuses on identifying patient situations that could escalate, promoting frontline involvement in de-escalation strategies, and ensuring care is managed with the least restrictive intervention.

How the TRT Works

Key to the TRT's functionality is its diverse team composition, which includes a member of the behavioral health team, pastoral care, a house supervisor, a security team member and the patient’s primary nurse. This collective expertise ensures a complete approach to managing challenging patient behaviors, aiming to soothe and stabilize rather than restrain, to promote a safer environment for patients and staff.

To call the TRT, a team member simply presses the TRT button on the responder panel in a patient room, which sends an alert to the team members' phones, similar to other emergency codes/alerts used within the hospital. This system ensures a rapid response to patients who may be displaying anxious or escalating behaviors, for intervention before situations reach a critical point.

The strategic inception of the TRT is hoped to significantly reduce instances of code green — the code used for combative persons within the hospital — and, by extension, workplace violence events. This initiative reflects a broader goal of improving the safety and quality of care within healthcare settings by employing more proactive and preventative measures.

Currently, the TRT initiative is piloted exclusively in the Ortho-Neuro Medical unit, but following a successful trial phase, it aspires to expand hospital-wide. This phased approach allows the team to fine-tune the program to effectively meet the needs of patients and frontline nursing staff across the entire institution. It is a significant step towards creating a safer, more responsive, and ultimately more compassionate healthcare environment for all.