Welcome
On behalf of the organizing committee and faculty for the 4th International Symposium on Rapid
Response Systems and Medical Emergency Teams I would like to welcome you to Toronto.
Toronto is known as one of the most multicultural cities in the world. The city’s diversity is
reflected in the cuisine, activities, languages and festivals.
On a given day English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Portuguese and a score of other
languages may be heard throughout the city.
I am extremely excited to share with you a synopsis for this years Symposium. Once again the
organizing committee has been able to secure an excellent list of international faculty selected to
represent the entire scope of a Rapid Response System. Invited faculty such as Kenneth
Hillman, Michael Buist, Donna Goldsmith from Australia; Peter Angood, Vice President and Chief
Patient Safety Officer of the Joint Commission, Michael Devita, Brad Winters, Elizabeth Hunt from
the United States; Gary Smith, Sheila Adam, from the United Kingdon; Jon Ovretveit, Freddie
Lippert, Ann Lippert, Scandanavia; Thomas E. Stewart, Bernard Lawless, Ann Kirby, Pierre
Cardinal from Canada.
The Symposium has been restructured based upon previous participant feedback. There will be
a mix of plenary discussions and thematic panels, as well as a focus on workshops targeted to
the Novice RRS provider, administrator, leader, and patient safety officer. The thematic panels
will focus on educational issues, research priorities and results, and advanced topics as they
pertain to the design, implementation, maintenance and administration of a Rapid Response
System. Specific nursing and pediatric panels will be presented to target particular topics of
interest. Finally, this Symposium will specifically address the growing interest in Rapid Response
Systems by government agencies, accrediting bodies, and health services. The Joint
Commission’s patient safety goals will be expressly addressed.
New this year is the inclusion of a variety of pre-conference workshops – presented by the CRI
Education Network and Innovative Critical Care Ultrasonography (ICCU Imaging). There will be
two single day workshops and a half-day workshop. Both adult and a pediatric Rapid Response
System Provider workshops will be offered. Each workshop is designed to assist the Rapid
Response System Provider to develop both a clinical and crisis resource management approach
to the acutely ill child or adult. CRI Education Network will also offer an intensive half day end of
life communication skills course. Finally ICCU Imaging will present bedside ultrasound and
echocardiography for the Rapid Response System Provider.
I am tremendously thrilled to be able to offer this exciting Symposium package to all of you. I
hope to see you soon; and in anticipation - WELCOME!!
Yours Truly
Stu
Stuart F. Reynolds
Course Chair
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