Enhanced Efficiency in Pediatric Interfacility Transport Through a Centralized Hospital System Communication Center

OBJECTIVES: Assess the implementation of a new centralized communication center and the effect on our institution's interfacility transport team's ability to respond to requests for patient transport. DESIGN: Retrospective review of data over 12 months prior to opening compared with 12 months after implementation of our centralized communication center. SETTING: Quaternary academic pediatric hospital system with three campuses, a specialized transport team with expertise in pediatric, neonatal, and maternal-fetal critical care, and a new centralized hospital system communication center. PATIENTS: All patients for whom transport to our hospital system was requested within the review period. INTERVENTIONS: Our hospital developed a multidisciplinary, centralized hub incorporating technology and integrated electronic tracking systems to coordinate real-time patient flow including intra- and interhospital transfers. One function of this center is to provide a communication center for critical care transports. Multiple new protocols and processes for transport were implemented upon opening. MEASUREMENTS and MAIN RESULTS: After implementation, total transports increased 60% (from 1,200 to >1,900 transports/yr). Team dispatch time decreased 40% from 57-34 minutes. Time from initiation of call to physician acceptance decreased 15% (median, 27-23 min). Over the same interval, there were 59% fewer lost transport opportunities. With this growth, our program was able to expand our transport program in scope and numbers. CONCLUSIONS: A centralized communication center for pediatric hospital patient flow that included specialized critical care patient transport has increased transport capacity and enhanced efficiency throughout our multicampus hospital system.