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.
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.