Medical Patient Transport Decision

Section 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES

1.12 PATIENT TRANSPORT DESTINATION CRITERIA

Parameters are guidelines that cannot always dictate what to do in all circumstances. Paramedics must be able to consider all options and choose what is best for the patient. Do no further harm. That applies to every aspect of the patient's care. That is why we strive to honor patient destination requests, evaluate the resources needed for the patient, consider continuity of care, take into account the impact on the family, the patient and the EMS system (and the potential impact on others needing our services), and choose to transport our patients to the MOST APPROPRIATE hospital by the most appropriate method.

STABLE PATIENT

• All patients will be transported to the hospital of their choice.
• If the selected hospital is outside the agencies transport coverage area, follow your agencies standard operating procedure for transport to that facility.

UNSTABLE PATIENT

• All patients whose condition meets the definition of UNSTABLE (with the exception of surgical trauma patients) will be transported to the closest appropriate receiving facility.
• If several hospitals are within the same approximate distance from the scene, allow the patient and / or patient’s family to select the closest appropriate receiving facility of their choice.
• If the patient and family refuse transport to the closest hospital(s), use paramedic judgment.

For transport destination of TRAUMA PATIENTS, refer to TRAUMA TRANSPORT PROTOCOLS (1.09)

For transport destination of STROKE PATIENTS, refer to STROKE PARAMETER (5.04)

For transport destination of CARDIAC/STEMI PATIENTS, refer to CHEST PAIN/ACS PARAMETER (4.01)

For transport destination of VAD PATIENTS, refer to VAD PARAMETER (4.14)