Interhospital Transport of the Neonatal Patient

Regionalized perinatal care has improved neonatal outcomes, but the transport of critically ill neonates from nontertiary centers continues to be affected by the type of care provided during pretransport stabilization and transport itself. Although the use of highly trained personnel during transports has reduced adverse events, there are still opportunities to standardize care and improve patient outcomes, particularly through improvements in key areas identified by quality and patient safety drivers. An important goal of transport care is to be an effective bridge to the type of intensive care provided by the receiving units. Delivering the ultimate patient experience with consideration to family-centered care and community relations is discussed as a way to improve the interhospital transport process.