Open AccessComplications during intrahospital transport of critically ill patients: Focus on risk identification and prevention
Author(s) -
Patrick Knight,
Neelabh Maheshwari,
Jafar A. Hussain,
Michael Schöll,
Michael Hughes,
Thomas J. Papadimos,
Weidun Alan Guo,
James Cipolla,
Stanislaw P Stawicki,
Nicholas Latchana
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of critical illness and injury science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.274
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2231-5004
pISSN - 2229-5151
DOI - 10.4103/2229-5151.170840
Subject(s) - medicine , critically ill , health care , medical emergency , intensive care medicine , intensive care unit , patient safety , identification (biology) , patient care , medline , nursing , botany , political science , law , economics , biology , economic growth
Intrahospital transportation of critically ill patients is associated with significant complications. In order to reduce overall risk to the patient, such transports should well organized, efficient, and accompanied by the proper monitoring, equipment, and personnel. Protocols and guidelines for patient transfers should be utilized universally across all healthcare facilities. Care delivered during transport and at the site of diagnostic testing or procedure should be equivalent to the level of care provided in the originating environment. Here we review the most common problems encountered during transport in the hospital setting, including various associated adverse outcomes. Our objective is to make medical practitioners, nurses, and ancillary health care personnel more aware of the potential for various complications that may occur during patient movement from the intensive care unit to other locations within a healthcare facility, focusing on risk reduction and preventive strategies.