Requests for Interhospital Transfer Received by An 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Interhospital transfers are necessary to meet the needs for emergency medical care with limited resources. 1339 emergency medical information centers are responsible for arranging interhospital transfers. We analyzed the requests for transfer received by an emergency medical information center to explore ways to improve the effectiveness and appropriateness of interhospital transfers. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 830 requests for interhospital transfers received by the Busan 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center from Aug 1, 2002, to Oct 31, 2002, by using record from the Center's computer system. RESULTS: Among the total 830 requests, 271 requests were due to trauma, 242 requests were due to acute diseases, 212 were due to chronic diseases, and 39 were due to intoxication. The center managed 647 requests (78.0%) successfully, but 183 requests (22.0%) were impossible to arrange. Transport from a tertiary care facility to a secondary care facility accounted for the majority of requests (305 requests 36.7%). Over half of the requests were because of temporarily unavailable resources (483 requests 58.2%). CONCLUSION: Interhospital transfers mediated by the Emergency Medical Information Center are helpful to alleviate emergency department overcrowding and to effectively utilize emergency medical resources.