1. Interfacility Transfer Teams: A Pilot Study to Assess Viability as a Skill Sustainment Platform.
- Author
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Medenbach AJ, Nguyen A, Raetz E, Morrison T, and Walrath B
- Subjects
- Humans, Pilot Projects, Male, Female, Adult, Retrospective Studies, Middle Aged, Clinical Competence standards, Clinical Competence statistics & numerical data, United States, Military Personnel statistics & numerical data, Patient Safety standards, Patient Safety statistics & numerical data, Patient Transfer methods, Patient Transfer standards, Patient Transfer statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Introduction: A US Naval hospital in the remote Pacific region has developed interfacility transfer (IFT) teams staffed by active duty personnel out of necessity due to a large percentage of critically ill patients requiring IFT and a lack of local resources. The IFT program underwent significant improvements in training and quality assurance in 2017. We sought to assess patient safety when transport was performed by our locally sourced and trained IFT teams. En route care (ERC) is a recognized critical capability gap in the US Navy requiring clinicians with current knowledge and skills to maintain competency. IFT programs may be a viable skill sustainment program for ERC clinicians., Materials and Methods: A database was created as part of the quality assurance program to collate information on patient demographics, level of care provided, reason for transport, and interventions provided by the transporting team. A retrospective review of these data was conducted with emphasis on the appropriateness of patient management and skill sustainment for active duty personnel. The project was deemed institutional review board exempt., Results: Of the 1,193 patient care reports reviewed, interventions were required in 128 (10.7%) of patients and 58 (4.9%) required ventilator management. Medical deterioration occurred during 22 (1.8%) of the transports, with 20 (90.9%) of the deterioration episodes managed appropriately. No patient harm occurred., Conclusions: IFT teams with local training were able to safely transport critically ill patients with no adverse outcomes, defined as direct harm to the patients as a result of transport. Patient care during transports included routine interventions, ventilator management, and troubleshooting of patient deteriorations. Our data further suggest IFT programs may be a viable skill sustainment platform for ERC clinicians., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2024. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.)
- Published
- 2024
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