1. TUHS Emergency Codes: Effective 10/1/2008

2. Situation An effective emergency code notification system allows for clear and precise communication to all on-site staff and physicians Clear notification of emergency events allow health care workers to take the first vital steps towards an effective response Standardized TUHS codes allow employees and physicians to work at the different hospitals and still understand the event notification

3. Background Emergency Codes are not nationally standardized, nor have they been standardized in Pennsylvania Codes need to be properly recognized by staff and physicians in order to maintain safety and security In a hospital in California, the misunderstanding of an emergency code cost the lives of three health care workers

4. Assessment TUHS Emergency Codes: Rapid Response Team: Rapid Response Team: Medical Emergency Code Blue: Code Blue: Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest Code Gray: Code Gray: Security Threat Code Black: Code Black: Bomb Threat Code Brown: Code Brown: Lockdown Code Pink: Code Pink: Infant/Child Abduction Code Orange: Code Orange: External Hazardous Materials/Bioterrorism Code White: Code White: Internal/External Disaster Code Red: Code Red: Fire Effective October 1, 2008

5. Recommendation Know the codes Know your responsibility when a code is code called Seek more information from one of the following sources: The Emergency Response and Preparedness intranet site: http://templescope.tuhis.temple.edu http://templescope.tuhis.temple.edu Or, your supervisor

6. True or False? There are federally mandated Emergency Codes. Clear notification of emergency events allow health care workers to take the first vital steps towards an effective response It is the responsibility of all staff and physicians to know the codes and how to appropriately respond. 1.False 2.True 3.True