Transfer Delays

[Heddah]

Circulation (an AHA journal) just published what they claim - “This is the first study that examines and identifies the specific reasons for delay of transfer patients.” (they looked at STEMI transfers from non-PCI facilities to PCI hospitals)

They say

Specifically, the 64 percent of delays at the referral hospital were caused by:

awaiting transportation ─ 26 percent;

emergency department delays ─ 14 percent;

diagnostic dilemma ─ 9 percent;

initial negative test for heart attack ─ 9 percent; and

cardiac arrest ─ 6 percent.

As an ED nurse I see this as lacking in reality. What about including:

A) The number of times the nurses told the Dr. "This guy needs to go. Tombstone T's = GTFO "

B) How long it takes the one call nurse at the receiving hospital to put down the Vogue and pick up the damn phone!!

C) How many receiving Docs call and say "Well yes, he is having a heart attack. And yes, I am a cardiologist. What you need an intensivist, I would be happy to consult."

D) How long it takes the charge nurse to get a hold of housekeeping to clean the bed before he can give a receiving bed number!!

Please add.....

[roma4204, BSN, RN]

Transfer from where to where? Hospital to hospital, or LTC to hospital, hospital to home????

[Heddah]

Sorry should have been more specific. This study looked at STEMI transfers.

"Researchers examined data from 2,034 STEMI patients transferred from 31 local non-PCI hospitals in Minnesota and Wisconsin to the Minneapolis Heart Institute from March 2003 to December 2009. Referring hospitals were up to 210 miles away from the Institute."

Google "Study Identifies Slow Spots in Transfer of Primary PCI Patients" for specifics