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Preparation of Patients

The need to transport patients is a common feature of rural medical and hospital practice. The literature abounds with papers outlining the adverse outcomes which can occur during intrahospital and interhospital transport.

Problems arise from:
  • inadequate diagnosis and initial management,
  • poor preparation,
  • failure to recognize potential complications during transport and
  • the use of inexperienced or inappropriate escorts.
Rural practitioners should understand:
  • the principles of preparation of patients for transport,
  • the capabilities of different transport services in Western Australia,
  • some special considerations in air transport of medical conditions,
  • what should accompany patients being transferred and
  • the medicolegal implications of patient transport.

This downloadable document on Preparation of Patients outlines some of the considerations in preparing your patient, particularly for air transport. 

Alternatively you can download the full version of the booklet Transporting Your Patient which covers How to Organize a Transfer, Preparation of Patients, Tips for Specific Groups of Patients and other useful information.