Transforming Code Blue response with a managed workflow

In a hospital setting, every second matters during a medical emergency. Traditional Code Blue workflows, often reliant on overhead paging and hospital-wide alerts, can create a chaotic environment—adding to clinician stress and potentially impacting patient recovery. A managed Code Blue response workflow offers a more streamlined, targeted approach that optimises emergency response workflows and improves patient outcomes.

The challenges of traditional Code Blue workflows

In many hospitals, initiating a Code Blue follows a familiar but inefficient process:

• The hospital switchboard receives the emergency call and announces it over the PA system.
• Nurse Call systems activate lights, update corridor displays, and play alert tones in the hallways.
• A hospital-wide notification is broadcast, often leading to excessive noise and unnecessary disruptions.
• Unfamiliarity with location, or coordination of correct staff, roles and call acknowledgement can create delays or resource issues [1]

This conventional approach contributes to alarm fatigue, delays in response times, and an environment that may not be conducive to patient recovery. A managed Code Blue workflow addresses these challenges by refining communication and response coordination.

The benefits of a managed Code Blue workflow

1. Faster, more effective emergency response

• Code Blue alerts are sent directly to the nearest available Emergency Medical Team (EMT) members, ensuring the quickest response.
• EMTs can acknowledge and accept the alert in real-time, allowing for better coordination.
• Automatic escalation chains prevent missed or delayed responses.
• Research has shown that smartphone-based Code Blue notifications reduce the time to activate a response team by 78 seconds compared to traditional methods—time that can be critical in saving lives [2] [3].

2. A quieter, more controlled hospital environment

• Eliminating overhead paging reduces noise pollution, creating a calmer atmosphere for both patients and clinicians.
• Studies indicate that a quieter hospital setting improves sleep quality for long-term care patients [4] and reduces delirium in ICU patients [5] .
• Minimising noise also prevents undue distress for nearby patients and visiting family members during Code Blue situations.

3. Reduced alarm fatigue for clinicians

• Smart notifications ensure that only the necessary EMT members receive alerts.
• Other healthcare staff can continue their work without being disrupted by excessive alarms.
• Less exposure to unnecessary alerts improves clinician focus, well-being, and overall hospital efficiency.

4. Data-driven insights for continuous improvement

• A managed Code Blue system captures all steps in the communications during the emergency response, and the data can be later used for detailed reporting and analytics.
• Hospitals can track response times, identify bottlenecks, and refine workflows for better efficiency.
• Post-incident reporting supports smarter resource allocation and optimal staffing strategies.

The future of emergency response

A managed Code Blue response system revolutionises emergency workflows by delivering faster response times, reducing stress and noise, and ultimately improving patient care. By integrating smart notifications, leveraging real-time analytics, and prioritising efficiency, hospitals can create a safer, quieter, and more effective environment for both patients and clinicians.

The future of emergency response isn’t just about speed—it’s about precision, clarity, and care.

Watch the Rapid Response and Communication in Critical Situations video use case to learn how hospitals can transform Code Blue response with a managed workflow, creating a quieter hospital environment.

Author

Christopher Keah, solutions architect, Connected Health, Wavelink 
Chris is an experienced solutions architect in healthcare ICT, with a background in vendor-side roles across both public and private healthcare projects. Notable projects include his work with the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and the Victorian Cancer Centre. He has extensive technical expertise in systems integration, clinical messaging, voice-over Wi-Fi (VoW-Fi), real-time locating systems (RTLS), nurse call systems, clinical mobility, medical device integration, and patient collaboration.

References

^[1] To improve the Code Blue (cardiac arrest) response time to less than 5 minutes within 6 months in Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Dr Carrie Leong et al, Singapore Healthcare Management 2019

[2]  https://newsroom.heart.org/news/smartphone-alerts-may-lead-to-faster-response-to-in-hospital-cardiac-arrest-code-blue

[3] Feasibility of accelerated code team activation with code button triggered smartphone notification https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36842677/

[4] The nursing home at night: effects of an intervention on noise, light and sleep https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10203118/

[5] Effect of nocturnal sound reduction on the incidence of delirium in intensive care unit patients: An interrupted time series analysis  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28351551/