Sustaining innovations in complex health care environments: a multiple-case study of rapid response teams.

This study examined factors facilitating or inhibiting the sustainability of rapid response teams (RRTs) by comparing two hospitals considered to have high- versus two hospitals with low sustainability RRTs. Study findings suggest that organizational factors (institutional strength and program champions) and project design/implementation factors (project effectiveness, training, funding) were critical for RRT sustainability. Individual and team characteristics should also be considered potential facilitators or inhibitors of RRT sustainability, as the study found that program champions’ actions and behaviors were more important for RRT sustainability than organizational position.