5 Ways to Streamline Trauma Transfer

Effective trauma transfer procedures require expertise, efficiency, and high-quality equipment. Read to discover how to streamline and simplify your trauma transfer operations.

Trauma transfer is a critical medical evacuation process that requires speed and protection to save lives or avoid further injury.

Specific medical professionals are trained and expected to execute the most efficient trauma transfer procedures that ensure the patient and staff remain safe while moving quickly to the necessary trauma treatment facility. In this piece, we discuss the trauma transfer process in detail across the correct protocols, stages of activity and what equipment to use.

Trauma Transfer Criteria

The criteria for trauma transfer belong to critical and life-threatening injuries. We can divide these injuries into the following two categories:

Critical Injuries  

• A blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI). Non-penetrating injury to the carotid or vertebral arteries.
• Torn thoracic aorta or great vessel caused by changes in velocity, accelerated collisions (cycling, motor vehicles) or falls from height (10-15 feet).
• Fracture or dislocation with loss of distal pulses.
• Cardiac or heart rupture. Where the walls, muscles or valves come apart, often during or after a heart attack.
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) after bilateral diffuse infiltrates chest radiography with a PO2/FiO2 ratio <200 and noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema.
• Major abdominal vascular injury due to penetrating wounds. Bruising, bleeding, and fractured bones.
• Grade 4 or 5 liver injuries and unstable pelvic fracture requiring >6 U red blood cell transfusion in six hours.

Life-Threatening Injuries

• Open fracture or penetrating skull injury.
• Glasgow Coma Scale score <14 or lateralising neurological signs.
• Spinal fracture or spinal cord deficit.
• Unilateral rib fractures or bilateral rib fractures with pulmonary contusion.
• Open long bone fractures.
• Significant torso injury with advanced comorbid disease.

From these injuries, emergency medical professionals can undergo the necessary steps to ensure the patient gets rushed safely to a hospital or medical facility where they can receive treatment.

5 Steps for a Successful Trauma Transfer 

After accurately ascertaining the type and severity of the injury, it’s vital to follow the necessary steps that provide the patient with the best chance of survival.

Here is a list of the necessary stages to ensure a safe and efficient trauma transfer process:

1. Refer to Protocols

Your medical facility should have clear, standard protocols for trauma transfer procedures. These protocols should include agreed roles for each healthcare provider while initiating and coordinating the process before providing the equipment and arranging the transportation.

For example, most seriously injured people can get transferred by air depending on the location and injury where this extent of rescue is required. An air ambulance has the fastest potential of getting the patient to treatment and can gain access to difficult-to-reach areas, such as coastlines or mountain ranges.

2. Designate Duties

Appoint a trauma transfer coordinator to oversee and facilitate the process. This professional will have responsibilities such as maintaining communication with transfer staff, gathering the appropriate documentation, and expediting the process as efficiently as possible.

3. Pre-Transfer Assessment

Verify the patient’s condition before assessing their medical history and performing diagnostic tests. At this stage, the patient should remain stabilised and comforted until the medical team arrives.

The pre-transfer assessment should also establish the appropriate mode of transfer. This success relies on the sending facility or person ascertaining the situation correctly. Inappropriate modes of transport can become resource burdens for emergency services and take precious time away from the patient receiving treatment.

4. Maintain Communication

Both parties on either end of the trauma transfer should maintain communication. If this is between two medical facilities, ensure that all medical records, conditions, imaging, and test results are shared electronically to assist decision-making.

Establish ongoing communication with medical professionals at the hospital or facility receiving the patient, such as real-time telemedicine consultants capable of guiding the care duties during the transfer.

5. Transport Team Preparation

Ensure to equip and inform the emergency services managing the trauma transfer with the best equipment and crucial information that will help expedite the process more safely and efficiently.

Whether travelling by air, sea, or ground, check the trauma transfer team has the correct equipment. The appropriate trauma transfer equipment should include the following:

• Trauma transfer board (Unit)
• Trauma transfer cover
• Trauma transfer mattress

Providing the correct equipment is essential for patient protection and immobilisation, enabling them to reach treatment safely and efficiently. Failure to take the right equipment might be the difference between life and death.

Final Thoughts

Streamlining your trauma transfer procedures requires collaboration among your healthcare staff, clear communication between receiving and sending facilities, and an overall commitment to continuous improvement.

By implementing these steps, your healthcare service can enhance its ability to provide timely and effective care to trauma patients.

As critical as trauma expertise and training, you require the ability to transfer patients safely and efficiently in the first place. That’s why investing in the best equipment is essential to ensure patients have the best chance if a trauma transfer is required.

Invest in the Best Trauma Transfer Equipment

Wolverson X-Ray provides specialist TraumaTransfer™ products and equipment, designed especially for fast and safe immobilisation across various transfer scenarios and trauma patients. Our high-quality trauma transfer products include:

Trauma Transfer Unit

Built for efficient and safe immobilisation, the TraumaTransfer™ Unit enables more comfort and safety for your staff and patients while optimised for X-ray and CT procedures in not blemishing image quality. The pressure-relieving material on the trauma transfer board helps minimise patient discomfort. The unit is also lightweight to assist medical staff when lifting.

Trauma Transfer Covers

Wolverson X-Ray provides disposable covers such as the TT-Cover™ with integrated head support. Designed for tensile strength purposes that stabilise the patient with advanced head support, the fabric is thin but remains strong to withstand a 150kg load in wet conditions.

If you have any questions about how our specialised medical products and equipment can assist your trauma transfer requirements, get in touch today and receive your free assessment.

You can also follow us on LinkedIn for more business and medical equipment content.