ACOG Committee Opinion No. 353: Medical emergency preparedness.

Abstract

Patient care emergencies may occur at any time in a hospital or an outpatient setting. To respond to these emergencies, it is important that obstetrician-gynecologists prepare themselves by assessing potential emergencies that might occur, creating plans that include establishing early warning systems, designating specialized first responders, conducting emergency drills, and debriefing staff after actual events to identify what went well and what are opportunities for improvement. Having such systems in place may reduce or prevent the severity of medical emergencies.