Communication Between Facilities

There must be clear communication between the sending and receiving personnel when a child needs to be transferred. The referring hospital must provide enough information about the child's condition for the receiving hospital to help determine the appropriate level and mode of transport, to advise on further care until the referral center is reached, and to arrange appropriate services at the definitive location.

Once the patient has reached the receiving hospital, information about the patient's condition and care given during the transport should be sent back to the referring physician and staff in a timely manner. This informa­tion might be especially important when parents or other family members cannot accompany the child during the transfer or reach the receiving hospital promptly. Alternative methods and numbers for contacting fam­ily members about medical updates, changes in required therapies, and/or obtaining consents should be determined before the transport. It is impor­tant for all parties in the transfer process to communicate clearly to avoid misunderstandings that might adversely affect patient care. The receiving hospital should also inform the staff who cared for the child at the transfer­ring hospital about the child's status during the hospital stay if permission has been granted by the patient and/or family and communications are within the scope of the regulations in the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA [Pub L No. 104-191]). The appropriate­ness of care given, timeliness of referral, and review of any problematic or exceptional issues that occurred should be provided to the referring person­nel at a later time, in a constructive manner, to encourage thoughtful and joint evaluation of the care provided and the preparation for transport.

References

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Selected Readings

Bengco A. The outlook is bright for critical care nurses. Crit Care Nurse Suppl. 2002;Feb(Suppl):6 Buchan J. Health sector reform and human resources: lessons from the United Kingdom. Health Policy Plann. 2000;15(3):319-325

Cunning SM. Avoid common management pitfalls. Nurs Manage. 2004;35(2):18

Hooker R, Berlin L. Trends in the supply of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the United States. Health Aff (Millwood). 2002;21(5):174-181

Jaques E. Managerial accountability. J Qual Participation. 1992;15(2):40-44

Jaques E, Cason K. Human Capability. Falls Church, VA: Cason Hall & Co; 1994

King B, Woodward G. Pediatric critical care transport: the safety of the journey: a five-year review of vehicular collisions involving pediatric and neonatal transport teams. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2002;6(4):449-454

Kraines GA. Essential organization. In: Leadership for Physician Executives. Boston, MA:

The Levinson Institute; 1999

Moyers E. Principles of leadership: think and communicate. Vital Speeches of the Day. 2000;66: 595-598

Wright JN. Mission and reality and why not? J Change Manage. 2002;3:30-44