AST Guideline for Patient Transportation

5 G. The CST must never use the stretcher or transportation device to force open any doors. H. When using an elevator, the elevator doors should be locked and the patient is transported headfirst into the elevator when using a crib or stretcher. 2 If using a wheel chair, the CST should back into the elevator. I. The patient should never be left unattended/abandoned during the transportation process. 1) When transporting a patient, the CST has accepted the patient assignment, thus establishing a CST-patient relationship that is continued until the CST has handed-off the care of the patient to another HCW. 8 2) Abandonment of the patient increases the risk of patient injury and inability to monitor the patient. Additionally, remaining with the patient provides emotional comfort and helps to lessen the patient’s level of anxiety. J. During the transportation process, the CST must remain observant of the patient for signs of physical or emotional distress. Guideline III It is the responsibility of the surgery team to safely transfer a patient from a transportation device to the OR table. 1. To ensure the safety of the patient and surgery team, the following safety measures should be applied during the transfer of the patient. A. When using a stretcher, it should always be positioned by comparing the patient’s body length to the OR table. B. The wheels of the transportation device and OR table must be locked. C. The team must confirm that IV lines, indwelling catheters, monitoring system lines and drains are secure and not entangled to prevent dislodging. The catheters, drains and lines must be moved and positioned prior to moving the patient, e.g. IV bag and line transferred to the standing IV pole. D. The correct number of surgery personnel must be used to transfer the patient from the stretcher to the OR table to safeguard the safety of the patient and surgical team. 1) For conscious, mobile patients, a minimum of two surgery personnel is necessary; non-mobile, conscious or unconscious patient, a minimum of four surgery personnel is necessary. 2) For the non-mobile patient, a patient transfer device should be used. E. The anesthesia provider is responsible for indicating when the patient can move himself/herself over to the OR table, or for the non-mobile patient, the anesthesia provider should verbally indicate to the surgery team when the patient can be moved. 2,7 The anesthesia provider must be responsible for protecting the head, neck and airway of the patient during transfer. 2,7