Paediatric inter-facility transport: the parents' perspective

A J Macnab1

  • 1Paediatric Critical Care Unit, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver.

Insights

Families using paediatric transport services appreciate the care but face significant financial and logistical challenges. Further research is needed to address these family support issues.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care
  • Healthcare access
  • Family-centered care

Background:

  • Inter-facility paediatric transport is crucial for accessing specialized tertiary care.
  • Families incur significant burdens during these transfers.
  • Understanding these burdens is essential for improving patient and family support.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of inter-facility paediatric transport on families.
  • To identify challenges faced by families during paediatric transfers.
  • To inform improvements in family support services.

Main Methods:

  • A telephone survey was conducted.
  • 54 families who experienced inter-facility paediatric transport were surveyed.
  • Data on family experiences and challenges were collected.

Main Results:

  • Most families expressed appreciation for the transport service and attendant expertise.
  • Significant challenges were reported, including financial difficulties, childcare needs, travel, and accommodation issues.
  • Families not accompanying the child, living far away, or not using hospital accommodation faced the most problems.

Conclusions:

  • While paediatric transport services are valued, substantial family-related problems persist.
  • Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate financial and logistical burdens for families.
  • Further research should explore solutions to enhance family support during paediatric transfers.

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