Optimizing Safety for Surgical Patients Undergoing Interhospital Transfer

Angela Ingraham; Caroline E Reinke

doi:10.1016/j.suc.2020.09.002

Optimizing Safety for Surgical Patients Undergoing Interhospital Transfer

Surg Clin North Am. 2021 Feb;101(1):57-69. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2020.09.002. Epub 2020 Nov 2.

Authors

Angela Ingraham¹, Caroline E Reinke²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, G5/342 CSC, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/AngieIngrahamMD.
² Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health, 1025 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28204, USA. Electronic address: Caroline.e.reinke@atriumhealth.org.

PMID: 33212080
DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2020.09.002

Abstract

Interhospital transfers play a key role in ensuring that patients receive necessary care. However, patients who are transferred between hospitals are a vulnerable population, and outcomes of transferred patients are suboptimal. Despite the critical nature of interhospital transfers, only limited effort has been dedicated to standardization and improvement of the transfer process. Studying and adapting quality improvement efforts directed at other transitions of care, particularly those that cross between different facilities and care teams "such as the transition from hospital to home or extended care facilities" may improve the care of surgical patients transferred between acute care institutions.

Keywords: Communication; Interfacility transfer; Interhospital transfer; Patient safety; Transfer outcomes.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Patient Safety / standards*
Patient Transfer / organization & administration
Patient Transfer / standards*
Quality Improvement*