What is PIER?
The ‘Prevention, Identification, Escalation, Response’ (PIER) approach.
To ensure that Martha’s Rule is effective, it will be implemented alongside a wider integrated national programme to improve the management of deterioration using a suite of resources designed around the acronym ‘PIER’, which helps systems to prevent, identify, escalate and respond to physical deterioration. This work will improve how the NHS supports staff to manage deterioration and encourage greater involvement from patients, families, and carers.
PIER stands for:
- Prevention: planning ahead of any episode of deterioration to stop what is preventable, considering indicators of risk and patient choice.
- Identification: tools and methods to identify when deterioration is occurring in a standardised way.
- Escalation: timely escalation of care when deterioration has been identified using standardised communication tools.
- Response: timely, appropriate and effective response to escalation of the deteriorating patient/person.
The National Director of Patient Safety, Aiden Fowler, provides more information on PIER in a podcast recorded in early 2024. A transcript of the podcast is also available to read or download.
You can listed to the podcast below.