Sec.19a-177-6. Interhospital transfers

(a) If a trauma patient who meets the Field Triage Protocol criteria for delivery to a Level I or Level II trauma facility is taken to a facility not so designated, that patient shall be transferred to a Level I or Level II trauma facility or the reason that the trauma patient is admitted, discharged or transferred to a different facility shall be documented in the patient's hospital record.

(b) For all interhospital transfers the sending hospital shall:

(1) document patient assessment and efforts to stabilize;

(2) communicate with medical and nursing staff at the receiving hospital;

(3) provide medically appropriate staff and orders for transporting personnel;

(4) transfer copies of the entire chart with copies of any x-rays and laboratory data; and

(5) document, by name, all parties contacted in arranging the transfer.

(c) Level I or Level II trauma facilities shall not refuse the transfer of trauma patients who fall within their designated level of capability unless their ability to provide that level of care is compromised.

(d) The Trauma Committee shall use the following peer review quality assurance/improvement plan to review interhospital transfers:

(1) The care and treatment of trauma patients is to be carried out by each hospital in accordance with standards established by the hospital, its medical staff, and these regulations.

(2) Data collected in accordance with section 19a-177-7 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall be supplied to the hospital's internal quality review process and the trauma registry.

(3) The trauma registry shall review and evaluate the data it receives from the hospital for completeness and accuracy.

(4) If data are incomplete or inaccurate the trauma registry shall notify the hospital that the data must be adjusted and re-submitted.

(5) The trauma registry shall produce summaries and reports and forward them to the trauma committee.

(6) Summaries and reports provided by the trauma registry shall be reviewed by the trauma committee to determine if the trauma system standards are being met, including the identification of significant deviations from norms, and to determine if further research is needed to improve the trauma system standards.

(7) The trauma committee shall report back to the hospital and when it believes trauma system standards are not being met may suggest changes that will assist the hospital in meeting those standards.

(8) Should the trauma committee determine that a hospital continues to fail to meet trauma system standards, the trauma committee may make recommendations for action to the Commissioner through the EMS Advisory Board.

(9) Beginning October 1, 1995, all hospitals shall follow the interfacility transfer protocols.

(e) Data and reports used in the peer review quality assurance/improvement plan shall be kept confidential pursuant to sections 19a-25 and 1–19 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(Adopted effective March 22, 1995)