At Regional Medical Center (RMC), we employ 5 values that we strive for each and every day: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Service (CARES). One of the most powerful examples of that commitment to our core values is the Critical Assessment Team (CAT), a highly specialized, proactive team dedicated to identifying and responding to patient decline before it becomes a life-threatening emergency.
Led by experienced clinicians Laurie, RTT, RTT-ACCS, RTT-NPS, CRRP and Caleb, RN, CRRP, the CAT program at RMC has become a model for hospitals across Alabama, proving that proactive critical care saves lives, improves outcomes, and supports frontline staff in meaningful ways.
What Is the Critical Assessment Team (CAT)?
The Critical Assessment Team is a dedicated group of critical care professionals whose primary responsibility is responding to declining inpatients anywhere in the hospital. Unlike traditional rapid response models that are often reactionary, CAT was designed to intervene early. Their guiding philosophy is simple but powerful: “Catch the spark before the fire.”
That mindset drives every call they answer, every patient they assess, and every educational opportunity they create by being proactive, not reactive, and taking personal accountability to redefine rapid response within a healthcare facility.
RMC’s Unique Approach
In 2008, rapid response teams became a national requirement. While many hospitals now technically meet the standard, the execution often remains reactive by rapid response staff functioning as bedside nurses who already carry full patient loads and are called in to assist only after a patient has significantly deteriorated.
The CAT program at RMC was created to be a dedicated team, free from routine patient assignments, allowing them to respond immediately and focus exclusively on critical assessment and intervention. Their goal extended not simply to respond to emergencies, but to use education and presence to start preventing critical situations before they become critical.
Today, CAT responds proactively to early signs of patient decline active and potential cardiac arrests, ICU upgrades, patients at risk of being sent back to the ER, and increasing patient severity at the bedside.
Since its implementation five years ago, the Critical Assessment Team has helped achieve a 92% reduction in non-ICU or non-ER cardiac arrests; a remarkable outcome that underscores the effectiveness of early intervention and expert bedside care.
A large portion of that goes back to their efforts of preventing deterioration instead of reacting to it. CAT has significantly reduced codes on inpatient units, improved patient stability, and relieved strain on both the ICU and Emergency Departments.
ICU-Level Care Anywhere in the Hospital
One of the most unique aspects of CAT is its ability to bring full ICU-level care directly to the bedside, regardless of where the patient is located in the hospital.
The team is equipped with a top-of-the-line ventilator in a backpack, capable of providing advanced respiratory support, critical monitoring tools, and other necessary equipment to stabilize patients immediately in any patient room at RMC.
This capability is especially important when ICU beds are unavailable due to patient volume. By delivering ICU-level care at the bedside, CAT helps prevent ER backflow, stabilizes patients in place, and buys critical time until appropriate beds become available.
CAT also plays a vital role in supporting both physicians and nursing staff. Laurie and Caleb often describe their role as being “another set of critical eyes”; experienced clinicians who can quickly identify subtle changes, assist with bedside procedures, and collaborate on treatment decisions.
For nurses, this support is invaluable. While CAT focuses on the critical situation at hand, floor nurses can continue caring for their other patients, ensuring safe staffing and continuity of care across the unit. However, Laurie and Caleb also use each call to aid the nurses and build education into every call.
Every CAT call is treated as more than an intervention; it is an opportunity for education.
The team actively teaches and mentors staff during real-time patient scenarios, reinforcing best practices, assessment skills, and critical thinking. This hands-on approach helps build confidence across the hospital and strengthens RMC’s overall culture of safety.
Beyond bedside education, CAT is deeply involved in formal training initiatives, including:
- Teaching classes for respiratory care and nursing students
- Providing Advanced Life Saving Care (ALSC) training
- Providing Pediatric Life Saving Care (PLSC) training to nursing staff
- Simulation Lab and Mock Code Training
The Critical Assessment Team also runs and hosts RMC’s patient simulation lab, where staff participate in mock codes and other high-risk scenarios. These simulations allow teams to practice emergency responses in a safe, controlled environment; aiding and improving communication, coordination, and confidence long before real emergencies occur.
A Program That Leads the State
The Critical Assessment Team at RMC was established as a pilot program in Alabama, and its success has not gone unnoticed. Other facilities across the state have since adopted the CAT structure modeled after RMC’s program, further validating its effectiveness and leadership.
When a patient is declining, time matters. CAT’s response times reflect their commitment to urgency and excellence. 80% of CAT calls are cleared within 90 seconds or less and that speed can make the difference between stabilizing a patient early and deploying critical measures.
CAT’s role extends into the Emergency Department as well. The team conducts rounds on patients who have been admitted but are waiting on inpatient beds. This proactive rounding ensures that any signs of deterioration are identified early, even before the patient is admitted to the hospital from the ED.
Beyond the Hospital Walls
CAT’s mission doesn’t stop at the hospital doors. The team is actively involved in community events, providing education on critical health topics such as anti-smoking and anti-vaping awareness. These efforts support long-term community health and align with RMC’s broader commitment to prevention and education.
Furthermore, while CAT is often associated with high-intensity critical care, the team is also deeply involved in end-of-life care. Laurie and Caleb take great solace in knowing that no patient will ever be alone during their final moments.
Their presence brings comfort not only to patients, but also to families and bedside staff during some of the most emotionally challenging situations in healthcare.
At its core, the Critical Assessment Team represents what is possible when expertise, compassion, and proactive care come together. Through early intervention, education, and unwavering dedication, Laurie and Caleb help ensure that patients at Regional Medical Center receive the right care promptly and efficiently.
By catching the spark before the fire, CAT doesn’t just respond to emergencies. They prevent them, support their colleagues, and save lives, one patient at a time.