Transfer Time After Acceptance to a Level I Trauma Center.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopaedics
• Trauma Surgery
• Healthcare Logistics

Background:

• Pediatric orthopaedic emergencies often require transfers between healthcare facilities.
• Level I trauma centers rely on timely transfers for effective emergency care.
• Inter-facility transfers present logistical challenges impacting patient treatment timelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze transfer times for pediatric orthopaedic patients to a level I trauma center.
• To identify factors influencing transfer delays.
• To assess the efficiency of the inter-facility transfer process for pediatric orthopaedic emergencies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patient records transferred to a level I trauma center in 2015.
• Inclusion criteria focused on isolated orthopaedic issues requiring transfer.
• Defined emergent conditions and peak traffic hours (rush hour).

Main Results:

• Ninety-six patients met inclusion criteria; 19% were orthopaedic emergencies.
• Average transfer time from acceptance to admission exceeded 3 hours (203 minutes).
• Significant delays occurred in patient departure from the transferring facility (average 114 minutes).

Conclusions:

• Pediatric orthopaedic transfer times are lengthy and exceed 3 hours on average.
• Transfer delays are not correlated with patient condition urgency, transfer distance, or rush hour.
• A substantial delay exists between transfer acceptance and patient departure from the initial facility.