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Current status of variations in in-hospital cardiac arrest call numbers in Japan: a nationwide survey

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Abstract

The use of standardized internal hospital phone numbers for cardiac arrest is advocated in Europe. We evaluated the current status of variations in medical emergency call numbers for in-hospital patients in Japan and whether anesthesiologists would approve a standardized number. From June 2018 to August 2018, a questionnaire survey was mailed to anesthesiologists in 1373 Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA)-accredited hospitals. The basis for opinions on using a standardized cardiac arrest call number in all Japanese hospitals was evaluated. Of 1373 facilities (response rate, 58%, n = 800), 741/776 (96%) reported a response system for in-hospital cardiac arrest; 638/710 (90%) responded to cardiac arrest through loudspeaker broadcast, audible to both patients and staff; 346/777 (48%) used a number between one and five digits long, four-digit numbers being the most common. Across Japan, 370 different numbers were reported. Only 385/688 (56%) of respondents had the emergency number memorized. Finally, 423/776 (55%) respondents approved standardizing a hospital telephone number for summoning help. Multivariate analysis showed that facilities where the anesthesiologists already memorized the call number were the only reason identified for opposition to the standardization. Although 96% of JSA-accredited hospitals had a response system for in-hospital cardiac arrests, discussions for standardization of a unified number need to be encouraged for improved emergency response.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan

    Bun Aoyama, Tomoaki Yatabe, Fabricio M. Locatelli & Takashi Kawano

  2. Department of Environmental Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan

    Marina Minami & Narufumi Suganuma

  3. Department of Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia

    Phillipa Hore

  4. Chair Patient Safety Committee, European Board of Anesthesiology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK

    David Whitaker

Authors
  1. Bun Aoyama
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  2. Tomoaki Yatabe
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  3. Fabricio M. Locatelli
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  4. Marina Minami
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  5. Narufumi Suganuma
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  6. Phillipa Hore
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  7. David Whitaker
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  8. Takashi Kawano
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Correspondence to Bun Aoyama.

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Aoyama, B., Yatabe, T., Locatelli, F.M. et al. Current status of variations in in-hospital cardiac arrest call numbers in Japan: a nationwide survey. J Anesth 35, 315–318 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-021-02906-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-021-02906-y

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