Improving safety and documentation in intrahospital transport: Development of an intrahospital transport tool for critically ill patients

Summary 

Transporting the critically ill patient is described within the literature as a high-risk procedure. Both guidelines and minimum standards are available to inform practice. However, a practical, clinically useful, and evidence-based document (tool) for the ICU nurse to use when transporting a critically ill patient was not identified in the literature. Consequently, the development of an intrahospital transport tool is described. This transport tool was designed to mitigate the risks associated with patient transport by providing the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse with an integrated documentation record, incorporating patient assessment with a procedural guideline. The result is a framework for the ICU nurse to use throughout intrahospital transfers, informing and supporting them to provide and document continuity of nursing care. The potential benefit of using this tool is enhanced patient outcomes through safer ICU intrahospital transport processes.

Keywords: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Intrahospital transport, Guideline, Patient safety