A dedicated retrieval and transfer service: the QUARTS Project

Area of Science:

• Critical care medicine
• Nursing education
• Patient safety

Background:

• Patient transfers pose risks to both patients and staff.
• Unplanned transfers can negatively impact patient mortality and morbidity.
• Dedicated transfer teams are linked to better patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• Describe an in-house competency-based training program for a dedicated transfer/retrieval service.
• Utilize the STaR approach for training existing nursing staff.
• Present audit data on referral sources, transfer numbers, and patient status.

Main Methods:

• Developed a competency-based training program using the STaR approach.
• Conducted an audit of patient transfer requests and actual transfers.
• Analyzed referral sources, patient acuity, and presenting conditions.

Main Results:

• Most referrals originated from Accident and Emergency and Surgical Directorates.
• Cardio-respiratory failure/arrest was the most common condition.
• Only 33% of requests resulted in actual transfers, but 36% of transferred patients required critical care admission.

Conclusions:

• Inexperienced transfer teams increase patient risk.
• Dedicated critical care transfer/retrieval teams reduce patient mortality and morbidity.
• Competency-based training is crucial for effective transfer services.