Cross-sectional Survey of Canadian Pediatric Critical Care Transport. Issue 1 (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kawaguchi, Atsushi; Gunz, Anna; de Caen, Allan
• Is Part Of: Pediatric emergency care. Volume 35:Issue 1(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: critical care -- transport -- Canada; Pediatric emergencies -- Periodicals; 618.92002505
• DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000853
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-5161

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to better understand the unique aspects of pediatric critical care transport programs across Canada by characterizing the current workforce of each transport program. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire was sent to the 13 medical directors of Canada's pediatric critical care transport teams, and to 2 nonhospital-affiliated transport services. If a children's hospital did not have a dedicated team for pediatric transport, the regional transport team providing this service was identified. Results: Eight of the 13 pediatric intensive care units surveyed have unit-based pediatric transport teams. The median annual transport volume for the 8 hospital-based teams was 371 (range, 45–2300) with a total of 5686 patients being transported annually. Among patients transported by the 8 teams, 45% (2579 patients) were pediatric patients (older than 28 days and younger than 18 years) and 40% (1022 patients) of the pediatric patients were admitted to the pediatric intensive care units. Eighty-eight percent of the responding teams also transported neonates (older than 28 days), and 38% transported premature infants. A team composition of registered nurse–respiratory therapist–physician was used by 6/13 teams (75%); however, it accounted for only a small proportion of the transports for most of the teams (median, 2%; range, 2%–100%). The average transport time from dispatch (from team home site) to arrival at receiving facility was reported by 6 teams, and has a median of 195 minutes (range, 90–360 minutes). The median distance from home site to the farthest referral site in the catchment area was 700 km (range, 15–2500 km). Conclusions: This is the first Canadian nationwide study of pediatric critical care transport programs. It revealed a complexity and variability in transport team demographics, transport volume, team composition, and decision-making process. Abstract : Supplemental digital content is available in the text.