Registration, Admission, Discharge, and Transfer: Part 4- Transfer

The transfer process has been defined as “the discharge of a client from one unit or hospital and admitting the patient to another without being sent home in the interim.” 

These transfers are done either internally or externally, depending on the size of the establishment, or hospital. If further caregiving can be handled in-house at the appropriate level of care, then the necessity to transfer to another (external) facility will be obviated. In either case, the patient must be moved with the utmost care and with as little delay or distress as possible. Just to emphasize, at no time does the patient return to their home during the transfer stage, unless returning directly to their home following discharge. 

There are several purposes for making transfers. The following are just some of the reasons a transfer may be recommended: 

• Patient condition:  If the patient’s condition deteriorates, they may require more acute care or need to be transferred to a specialist and if the patient’s condition improves, they may require less care and speedy discharge. 
• Patient functionality: The patient is encouraged to become more functional and less reliant on the health-care system. 
• Life-threatening situations: More specialised care or equipment may be necessary to treat the patient further.  

• Intensive care: In some situation if the patient’s condition worsens then they might be moved to intensive care units. 

Some of the steps involved in the transfer, after a thorough risk assessment is done, might involve the following: 

• Informing and advising the patient and their next of kin or authorised caregiver of the transfer process. 
• Completing a transfer summary:  This refers to the documentation that has been duly authorised and signed off, ensuring that all the necessary approvals, patient records, medication, advising of other parties involved etc. has been done. It is extremely necessary to detail and document what pertains in the process and what steps are in place to successfully complete the transfer.  

• Exchange of   clinical information:  It is critical that all and any records, notes, observations, anything that may have an impact on the patient’s recovery and treatment, be communicated to the receiving hospital, department, ward etc. in  order to ensure effective medical intervention . 
• Co-ordination of the transfer: In most cases, a registered nurse handles the co-ordination of the transfer process. 
• Transporting the patient: The actual physical transport must be handled according to the care level required. Whether from one bed to another, wheelchair to ambulance, ambulance to other facility and so on. This also involves transferring the patient’s chart, special instructions, medication, medical records, nursing supplies, and personal belongings, etc., to the other unit.  

 As can be seen, the transfer process may have fewer steps than the other processes in the  R A D T system, but it is just as important as any of the other stages. Like most procedures, their actual implementation may vary from one institution to another. In the best interest of the patient and the establishment, these R A D T steps have been identified through experience, to serve the purpose for which they were intended. Modern technology has been a major step in helping to make the R A D T system more efficient, functional and cost saving. 

If you would like to learn more about how our flagship product “CELLMA” can help your establishment in any of these areas, please contact us or visit our RioMed Ltd. website.