Rapid assessment and initial patient treatment team -- a way forward for emergency care.

As a consequence of the UK Department of Health drive to introduce the 4-h emergency care target acute trusts have attempted to initialize a myriad of programmes to improve the patients' experience in this sector. Changes to how patients are managed and the flow that they enter within the emergency care system have become a popular option. This paper seeks to explore the concept of the Rapid Assessment and Initial Patient Treatment team (RAPT) within the Accident and Emergency (A and E) environment. We intend to provide information for readers who may be considering introducing such teams. The paper will explore the initial practical difficulties that were encountered. We will explore associated benefits for the RAPT approach including improved teamwork, better communication with the family, avoiding unnecessary duplication of work and discuss the benefits of having a direct referral process in place for emergency patients.