What does this medical term mean?

Question

In Scrubs when some one's heart rate drops (i think) they yell " He's coding" or " he's coating"? Any one know which one it is and how it's used

Answer 1

Hospitals have a number of "codes" for different problems. Code Red is a fire, for instance. It is considered better than yelling "fire" over the intercom system. A person who is dying, whether it is from a heart attack or any other reason, is a Code Blue...coding for short. That notifies the staff to respond immediately...again without yelling, "He's dying!"

Answer 2

Coding. To avoid alarming others, announcements to alert medical staff to emergencies often use colour codes. The most common code is 'blue' which indicates that a patient needs immediate resuscitation for a number of reasons, such as a very low heart rate or abnormal heart rhythm. In common usage, the 'code' has come to mean the process of resuscitation, and 'coding' for the deterioration to a state where resuscitation is needed.

Answer 3

Yes, it's "coding".

Each hospital uses its own code system. Where I work now, it's "Code 7" (but all the monitors turn blue and list the location, so it's no secret what is going on!)

A "code" doesn't have to be a heart attack, although it is typically a cardiopulmonary arrest. It is a way to get personnel and equipment to the right place in a hurry.

Answer 4

When there is a person whose heart has stopped, hospitals do not say "heart attack in room 208". They say "code blue in 208" or some similar secret word. So as a slang term,someone whose heart is stopping or stopped is referred to as "coding".

Answer 5

The patient is "Coding" - it's a nice way to alert staffers that the patient is having a heart attack. It doesn't sound so bad to the other patients as having to hear someone yell out "HE'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK!!! COME QUICK!!!"

Answer 6

He's coding. I think heart failure is a code five. So they use coding for short.