[Interhospital critical care transport]

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Logistics and Operations Management

Context:

• Critically ill patients requiring specialized procedures often necessitate transfer between hospitals.
• Hospitals may lack the necessary equipment for advanced diagnostics or therapeutics.
• Interhospital critical care transfer is essential for accessing specialized medical care.

Purpose:

• To describe the process and challenges of interhospital critical care transfers.
• To outline the phases and special considerations for these complex transports.
• To emphasize the importance of planning, specialized teams, and crew-resource management.

Summary:

• Interhospital critical care transfers involve moving critically ill patients between facilities without interrupting care.
• These transfers are resource-intensive, demanding specialized teams, predeployment planning, and efficient crew-resource management.
• Safe execution is achievable with adequate planning, even for special missions like patient quarantine or extracorporeal organ support.

Impact:

• Highlights the critical need for specialized teams and logistical strategies in critical care transport.
• Provides a framework for understanding and improving the safety and efficiency of interhospital patient transfers.
• Informs best practices for managing complex patient transport scenarios, including unique patient populations and conditions.