Reaffirmed by the ACEP Board of Directors September 2005
This policy statement was originally approved by the ACEP Board of Directors September 1999
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) believes that a patient's condition and the potential for complications should dictate the level of services available during interfacility transportation. Critical Care Transport Teams are an important means of providing an appropriate level of care during the transfer of critically ill and injured patients.
Sound policies and coordination among the various responsible parties are necessary to provide seamless care for the patient throughout the transfer process. Transferring physicians are responsible for initial patient assessment and determining the appropriate level of care for the patient during transfer. Accepting physicians must ensure that the receiving facility is fully capable of providing necessary patient services and care.
Transportation agency physician medical directors must have sufficient education, experience, and training in the management of critical care patients and in transportation medicine issues to ensure appropriate medical oversight and direction to the transportation agency and its personnel.
Critical care transportation agency physician medical directors must:
Oversee the development and operation of these specialized transfer services, including administrative and clinical guidelines.
Determine minimum team composition and equipment requirements.
Ensure that all team members are properly educated and trained in the critical care transport environment and do not practice outside their approved scope of practice.
Provide orientation for ancillary personnel who do not normally provide out-of-hospital critical care services.
Provide consultative services, education, and guidance to physicians, transportation agencies, and others involved with patient transfer decisions.
