Physician-assisted interhospital transfer-an analysis from Schleswig-Holstein

BackgroundThe need for interhospital transport (IHT) of intensive care patients is increasing due to changes in the hospital environment. Interhospital transports are challenging and require careful operational planning of personnel and rescue vehicles. ObjectiveTo investigate the need for IHT, an analysis was conducted in the service area of the emergency medical service central dispatch center (IRLS) in Schleswig-Holstein. Material and methodsEmergency physician-assisted IHT were analyzed in the period from 01.10.2021 to 30.09.2022. ResultsOf a total of 158,823 documented IRLS missions, 2264 (1.4%) records could be identified and included as IHT: 1389 IHT (61.4%) were managed by specialized ambulances, 875 (38.6%) by primary care ambulances. Primary care ambulances were mainly used for time-critical transfers and outside the duty hours of the intensive care ambulances, 21.2 % were by air. Of all IHT, 43.1% were required to hospitals with a higher level of medical care. ConclusionEmergency physician-assisted IHT are a relevant part of the emergency service's operational spectrum and concern both primary care and specialized rescue vehicles. A relevant number of urgent IHT were recorded outside the duty hours of the intensive care ambulances. For emergency transports during nighttime, an expansion of air-based transfer capacities should be considered due to the time advantage. For less urgent IHT, an adjustment of the capacities of specialized ground-based vehicles in Schleswig-Holstein seems reasonable.