Patient bedside observations: what could be simpler?

To cite: Buist M, Stevens S. BMJ Qual Saf Published Online First: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2013002143 INTRODUCTION Most readers will understandably pass by the piece by Hands et al, “Patterns in the recording of vital signs and early warning scores [EWSs]: the degree of compliance with a clinical escalation protocol.” The keywords ‘patterns’, ‘recording’, ‘vital signs’, ‘early warning scores’, ‘protocol’ and ‘compliance’ will attract only the most interested in this area. A complicated-looking methodology and the use of technical jargon and acronyms may even prevent skimming by casually interested readers. Even experts in this topic may pass over the paper, perhaps just giving it a quick glance and nodding in agreement that ‘we all know’— patient observations are either not taken or are taken incorrectly and that when they are taken and recorded correctly few clinicians take any interest in them.