The practice of categorizing hospitals and units by their staffing and other resources is often the basis for regulatory or procedural rules regard­ing interfacility transport.

Regionalization of specialty services requires that critical care transport programs be familiar with the specific capabilities of sending and receiving facilities. By serving as a resource for referring physi­cians and hospitals, the transport program can facilitate appropriate tri­age and streamline communication. Furthermore, proactive development of transfer algorithms and agreements for specific types of patients can improve system efficiency.