All Branch Topic (ABT) Who owns the patient while in transit?

[Perrotfish]

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If I transport a patient to another facility, who is legally responsible for outcomes that occur during the transport? Is it me or the physician at the facility who sent out the transport to pick up the patient?

Also, if the answer is that its me, does it make any difference if an NP, or a Physician, from the accepting facility comes with the transport?

 

[backrow]

My understanding is that the patient is yours "until accepted by another competent authority." Reality is probably a little more murky.
So, if you are requesting transport for a patient from hospital X to Bigger Hospital Y then depending on transport taken the responsibility is:
-You told pt to take POV: you own them until they get there
-You arranged medical transport (Ambulance/Helo/etc) the responsibility for the patient has been turned over from you to the new responsible authority who is the transport team.

Now, for lawsuits I can guarantee the type of transport selected by the physicians will be scrutinized. "So Dr, why did you send that patient BLS when the ended up dying....don't you think ALS or helo would have been more appropriate?"

If you don't feel confident in the personnel sent to transport your patient you can always request higher level of care.

Maybe one of our ED/EMS folks can chime in.

 

[Gastrapathy]

You do.