Ask the Experts

Q What important step must be considered before transferring a patient from one facility to another?

A Renee Holleran, RN, PhD, CEN, CCRN, and Carol Rhoades, RN, BSN, reply:

Several things should be considered to determine how to safely transfer a patient from one institution to another, including:

• indications for transfer,

• the best mode of transport,

• who should provide care during the transport,

• legal implications of transfer and transport, and

• accepting physician.

A patient may require transfer to another facility because of 3 main reasons: (1) the resources at the referring facility are not adequate to manage the patient, (2) the benefits outweigh the risk of transfer, and (3) the patient or family may request a transfer.¹ Once the need for transport has been determined, a receiving facility and physician must be identified.

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