Table 1.

Relative importance of three key domains contributing to the timely recognition and effective management of complications in general surgical and elderly surgical populations

Domain	Potential Importance to Rescue	Heightened Importance in Rescue of Elderly Patients
Communication	Maintaining clear, concise flow of information across care team during “golden hours” of clinical deterioration	Time critical reporting of information across multiple providers within a shortened “golden hour” of deterioration
Teamwork	Effective implementation of care protocols in setting of major complications and deference to expertise	Inter-professional management of multiple co-morbidities in conjunction with surgical management of complications
Safety Culture	Demonstrating a strong commitment to resilience and preoccupation with failure in order to engage in proactive and pre-emptive analysis and discussion	Heightened awareness amongst team members for the need to adapt, act, and speak up in the setting of impending or on-going crisis given complexities in care of the elderly