Responding to the deteriorating patient: The rationale for treatment escalation plans (17 June 2022)

Summary

A Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP) is a communication tool designed to improve quality of care in hospital, particularly if patients deteriorate. TEPs aim to reduce variation caused by discontinuity of care, avoid harms caused by inappropriate treatment and promote patients’ priorities and preferences. This article in the Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh examines the key components of a TEP, how and why TEPs should be implemented and the outcome-related evidence to support their use.