Analysis of the retrieval times of a centralised transport service, New South Wales, Australia.
Archives of Disease in Childhood · 2008-10-16 · Registry study
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the transport times of immediate and emergency retrievals for neonatal and paediatric patients retrieved by ground and air from general hospitals to tertiary centres. DESIGNS: We conducted a database review of the records of 17 011 requests for retrieval to a centralised transport service in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia from 2000 to 2006. RESULTS: Immediate and emergency retrievals included 4575 (43.7%) neonatal and 5887 (56.3%) paediatric retrievals. The median stabilisation time was 97 min for neonatal compared with 50 min for paediatric retrievals. Neonatal retrievals had a significantly longer stabilisation time (approx x2), handover time (approx x1.2) and mission time (approx x1.3) compared to paediatric retrievals. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing reference times for the transport process is a valuable quality assurance tool. Such data will be valuable for staff and budgeting purposes and for evaluating new interventions that reduce retrieval times.
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Tags
Helicopter & air ambulance · Children · Interfacility & critical care transport · Neonates · Time intervals
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