The complete results of the 2011 Hospital Emergency Code Standardization Survey, conducted by the California Hospital Association (CHA) in partnership with the regional associations, is now available.

Download the results.

The survey, a follow-up to one conducted in 2009 to assess statewide hospital emergency code usage, revealed improved code consistency among facilities. Of the 240 responding hospitals, 75% or more reported using codes first recommended by HASC in 2000 for the following incidents: fire, adult medical emergency, infant abduction, bomb threat, combative person, person with a weapon/hostage situation, hazardous material spill, and emergency alert.

However, confusion continues to arise from a diversity of codes and/or similarly named codes, causing workers who share time across multiple facilities to place themselves and others at risk. In one reported incident, a nurse was surrounded with security guards and police after calling a “Code Blue” when a patient stopped breathing. At that hospital, a “Code Blue” indicated a person with a weapon.

Hospital associations have advocated for the adoption of a standardized code system for more than a decade. HASC was first to propose nationwide standardization in 2000. Currently, 21 state hospital associations have similar programs with only one—Maryland—legally mandated. Three national health care organizations also provide standards—American Hospital Association, US Army Medical Command, and Hospital Emergency Incident Command.

The final results of the survey illustrate ongoing progress in hospital emergency code implementation among California health care facilities.