Table 1 Important components of the success of the MET service at The Austin Hospital

Collection of baseline data for before-and-after studies

Obtaining support from administrators and heads of departments

Detailed education and preparation for 1 year before introducing the MET service

Repeated education of new and existing hospital staff

Administering questionnaires to assess staff attitudes and obstacles to MET use

Assessing the circadian pattern of MET activations and cardiac arrests

Ongoing audit of effectiveness of the MET

Feeding back effectiveness to hospital staff at regular meetings

Assessment of the common causes of MET syndromes

Educating ICU fellows about an approach to managing a MET call