Emergency Inter Facility Transport

Section 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES

1.14 EMERGENCY INTER-FACILITY TRANSPORTS

The maitland Fire Rescue Emergency Medical Services System does not routinely provide interfacility transports. However, during times of system disaster or unusual circumstances, requests for Emergency Interfacility Transports will be considered on a case-by-case basis. When a request is approved, the Maitland Fire Rescue Emergency Medical Services System will provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) transport for interfacility transfers in accordance with the following guidelines.

• A Paramedic must attend the patient during the transport.
• The responsible physician at the transferring facility must order the patient transfer certifying that the transfer is medically appropriate and that acceptance has been obtained from the receiving physician and facility. The determination of appropriateness and all actions required under federal and state law are the exclusive responsibility of the transferring physician and facility.
• The transferring physician and / or his or her designee must request the designated agency to provide ground / air transport for the patient in either an emergency or non-emergency mode.
• Transport for inter-facility patient transfers will be provided in a timely manner to the extent resources permit without seriously hampering the availability of emergency response resources for pre-hospital care within the respective county. Requests may be triaged on a medical priority basis by the designated agency supervisory / administrative personnel.
• The attending Paramedic must obtain a verbal patient report from the transferring nurse. In addition, it is the responsibility of the Paramedic to confirm the physician’s orders for patient management during transport by reviewing the patient’s hospital orders with nurse and / or physician prior to transporting patient. (The patient’s chart copies, x-rays, belongings, etc. must be transported to the receiving facility with the patient and documented on the report as such.) Treatment is to be continued enroute as ordered.
• In the event that the patient will require extensive management enroute to the receiving facility, follow your agency’s standard operating procedures.
• If the patient is determined to be unstable or it is anticipated that the condition may likely deteriorate enroute to the receiving facility, the Paramedic should voice his / her concerns to the physician and / or nurse and notify the field supervisor. If the physician believes that the benefits of the transfer outweigh the risks; the facility must send a RN or RT to accompany the patient.
• Patients with special needs such as high-risk obstetrical patients or patients with Intra Aortic Balloon Pumps require attendance by specially trained personnel. The specially trained personnel serve as the priority caregiver during the transfer unless it directly conflicts with MFRD Guidelines. All efforts should be made by the Paramedic and / or EMT to assist in patient care during the transfer, however, these efforts must not conflict with the physician’s orders or MFRD Guidelines.
• Medical equipment and supplies which may be needed during transfer that are not routinely carried on MFRD units must be provided by the transferring medical facility.
• A Patient Care Report shall be generated for all inter-facility patient transfers.