Paediatric retrievals in South Australia

Area of Science:

• Medical Retrieval Services
• Pediatric Critical Care
• Health Informatics

Background:

• A coordinated retrieval service for adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients has operated in South Australia since the early 1970s.
• The pediatric retrieval service is based at the Adelaide Children's Hospital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the workload and patient data associated with the pediatric retrieval service.
• To present and discuss the findings from the analysis of retrieval service records.

Main Methods:

• Patient records from the pediatric retrieval service were collected up to the end of 1983.
• Data were entered into a microcomputer file program for analysis.

Main Results:

• The pediatric service managed a total of 379 patients by the end of 1983.
• In 1983 alone, 90 pediatric patients were managed by the service.
• The service represents a considerable workload for the Anaesthetic and Intensive Care Departments.

Conclusions:

• The pediatric retrieval service has experienced significant growth, impacting departmental resources.
• Data analysis provides insights into the demands placed on critical care services by patient retrievals.