Intra and interhospital transfer of the critically ill patient
Transferring critically ill patients can be fraught with risks. Any transfer should be considered an 'ICU on wheels'. There should be no diminution of the intensity and quality of care. See Intra and Inter hospital transport of critically ill patients and Regional Interhospital Transfer (PROMPT) for more information.
Interhospital transfer for adult patients is co-ordinated by Adult Retrieval Victoria. Interhospital transport of paediatric and neonatal patients is co-ordinated by PIPER.
Accepting patients into Bendigo Hospital:
ALL surgical interhospital transfers must be approved by the treating and accepting surgical registrar/consultant and ICU registrar/consultant PRIOR to transfer. This differs from general medical patients which can be accepted by Bendigo Hospital ICU with contact to the admitting medical unit AFTER/UPON patient arrival.
For patients being transferred from Bendigo Hospital:
When the decision has been made to transfer a patient from Bendigo hospital, ARV is contacted which locates an ICU that can accept the patient. If the patient must transfer to a specific ICU (eg. Austin hospital for liver transplant consideration), the specific ICU must be contacted DIRECTLY by our ICU medical staff to accept the patient before ARV is contacted to facilitate transfer.
Interhospital transfer for adult patients is co-ordinated by Adult Retrieval Victoria. Interhospital transport of paediatric and neonatal patients is co-ordinated by PIPER.
Accepting patients into Bendigo Hospital:
ALL surgical interhospital transfers must be approved by the treating and accepting surgical registrar/consultant and ICU registrar/consultant PRIOR to transfer. This differs from general medical patients which can be accepted by Bendigo Hospital ICU with contact to the admitting medical unit AFTER/UPON patient arrival.
For patients being transferred from Bendigo Hospital:
When the decision has been made to transfer a patient from Bendigo hospital, ARV is contacted which locates an ICU that can accept the patient. If the patient must transfer to a specific ICU (eg. Austin hospital for liver transplant consideration), the specific ICU must be contacted DIRECTLY by our ICU medical staff to accept the patient before ARV is contacted to facilitate transfer.