Analysis of physician-manned secondary interhospital transfers in a location with a Mobile Intensive Care and Transport Unit

Since the introduction of the DRG-system in Germany the constitution of medical centres has an increasing impact on the emergency medical infrastructures. The physician-manned secondary interhospital transfer of critically ill patient is therefore of special interest. A close coordination of the emergency medical services and hospital planning is already demanded by health policy. The aim of this study was to analyse the status quo of ground-based physician-manned secondary inter-hospital transfers on a University hospital with an established Mobile Intensive Care and Transfer Unit. There was an emergency transport indication in 39% of all secondary transfers. 17% were accompanied by the primary emergency physician-manned system, 12% by the Mobile Intensive Care and Transfer Unit and 10% by the clinic doctor. Most planned interhospital transfers (in the course of the day and subsequent day) were conducted by the Mobile Intensive Care and Transfer Unit. The needs of physician-manned secondary transports cannot be fulfilled with the existing resources of the primary emergency medical services. A central documentation could offer a solid base for the planning of physician-manned interhospital transport systems in the future.