Code Alert Standardization

STATEWIDE CODE ALERT STANDARDIZATION

Code 99! Code Red! Code 1000!...all codes that are currently used in Arizona's hospitals to call for help during a fire. When seconds count, as in a real fire, figuring out what the code alert means as it is happening is hazardous. This type of confusion can be avoided if Arizona's hospitals use the same code alerts. In 2009, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association is asking all hospitals and healthcare providers to standardize their code alerts for the following codes by December 31, 2009.

1.         Fire
2.         Abduction
3.         Cardiac Arrest (Pediatric and Adult)
4.         Bomb Threat
5.         Combative Person
6.         Combative Person with Weapon
7.         Infant Abduction
8.         Pediatric Abduction
9.         Internal Disaster
10.       External Disaster
11.       Hazardous Materials Spill


Resources have been developed to assist with the implementation for the standardization. They are:

  • Powerpoint Presentation for Training - Click Here
  • Employee Education Brochure with FAQ's. The Brochure also includes:
    • Reference chart showing new code alert
    • Pocket sized cut out of code alert chart
    • ID Badge cut out of code alert chart

    For the English Version PDF, Cick here
    For the English Version Word document (to add your organization information), Click here

    For the Spanish Version PDF    , Click here
    For the Spanish Version Word document (to add your organization information), Click here

      • Three "cut and paste" newsletter articles for hospitals to use for their own employee newsletters about the initiative - Click Here

If there are questions regarding this initiative or the materials that are available, please contact 602-445-4300. The recommendations for standardization was developed by a team representing Arizona's hospitals across the state. The team consisted of members representing varied and pertinent hosptal departments, such as Security, Disaster Preparedness, Education, Risk Management, Quality Improvement, Nursing, etc. The Team convened during the summer of 2008 to work on the project, which included analyzing Arizona data, national data, and recommendations and information from national stakeholder groups. The Team then formulated the recommendations and developed the resource information to support the initiative. The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association would like to thank the following participants for their contribution and dedication to this effort:

Don I. Brazie, CEM, CIPS
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Scottsdale Healthcare

Vickie Clark
Chief Executive Officer
La Paz Regional Hospital

Ron Coles
Director of Safety and Security Services
University Physicians Healthcare Hospital

Craig M. Crosby
Director of Security Services
Phoenix Children's Hospital

Jim Dunajski
Director of Security
Kingman Regional Medical Center

Kathy Evans, CRM
Risk Manager
Paradise Valley Hospital

Deb Hartman
Director of Quality Outcomes
University Physicians Healthcare Hospital

Mark Hutsell
Director of Patient Safety and Quality Services
Yuma Regional Medical Center

Maria Martinez
ED Director and Disaster Preparedness Coordinator
La Paz Regional Hospital

David C. McCarthy, BA, NREMT-B
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Chandler Regional Hospital/Mercy Gilbert Medical Center

Kim Perry
Director, Environmental Health and Safety
Banner Health

Susan Pinto, RNC, BSN
Clinical Practice Educator
Maricopa Integrated Health System

Eileen Pressler, RN
Director, Quality Management
Kingman Regional Medical Center

Caryn T. Staib, RN, MBA, MHSA
Director of Operations
Emergency Management
Banner Health

Rob Stewart, RN
Emergency Department
Clinical Practice Educator
Maricopa Integrated Health System