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Southern African Journal of Critical Care (Online)
versão On-line ISSN 2078-676X
versão impressa ISSN 1562-8264
South. Afr. j. crit. care (Online) vol.33 no.1 Pretoria Jul. 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAJCC.2017.v33i1.319
EDITORIAL
The need for setting standards in critical care transfers
M VenterI; D StantonII; N ConradieIII, IV; L JordaanV; C VenterVI; M VenterVI; W StassenVII, VIII
IBTech EMC; Netcare 911, Netcare (Pty) Ltd., Midrand, South Africa
IICritical Care Assistant (CCA); Netcare 911, Netcare (Pty) Ltd., Midrand, South Africa
IIIBTech EMC; Critical Care Transport Unit, Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government, South Africa
IVBTech EMC; Department of Emergency Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
VBTech EMC; Department of Emergency Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
VIBTech EMC ; Critical Care Retrieval Services, ER24, Johannesburg, South Africa
VIIBTech EMC, MPhil EM; Department of Emergency Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
VIIIBTech EMC, MPhil EM Critical Care Retrieval Services, ER24, Johannesburg, South Africa
South Africa (SA) has a well-described shortage of critical care resources and specialists, often necessitating interfacility transfer to meet the needs of patients requiring further care.[1] Previously published work has reported high rates of adverse events when transfers of critically ill patients (critical care transfers, CCTs) are undertaken by prehospital providers who lack advanced skills and training.[2-4]
In our recently published article in SAJCC,[5]we suggested that a remedy for this could be the development postgraduate training curricula for prehospital providers undertaking CCTs, which would allow for an additional scope of practice. Although this is an ideal to strive towards, it is not a realistic solution in the short term. We propose a national standard-setting (board) exam for all prehospital providers undertaking these high-risk transfers. This would enable a standardised level of care, more consistent practice, and significant clinical risk mitigation.
Within SA, advanced life support (ALS) practitioners with various qualifications are undertaking CCTs. The training of these providers in critical care has been variable at best.[5] In October 2016, the Health Professions Council of SA released newly proposed scopes of practice for all prehospital providers for commentary.[6] These proposed changes, pending acceptance, would see providers at the technician level, with even less critical care training, undertaking the transfer of ventilated patients, for example. The term ALS would no longer hold its current definition and ALS practitioners of different levels would no longer have the same skill set. The CCT environment would soon be confronted with the new challenge of redefining which practitioners are competent to undertake high-acuity transfers.
Internationally, practitioners who undertake CCTs undergo further training and are required to pass a board exam before becoming certified critical care paramedics.[7,8] This is not the case locally. A concerted effort should be undertaken by critical and prehospital care societies to develop, moderate, and administer the exams to ensure that those involved in CCTs are adequately knowledgeable and skilled to do so safely - this is in the best interest of patient outcomes.
References
1. Scribante J, Bhagwanjee S. National audit of critical care resources in South Africa - transfer of critically ill patients. S Afr Med J 2007;97(12.3):1323-1326. [ Links ]
2. Bambi S, Lucchini A, Innocenti D, Mattiussi E. Complications in critically ill adult patients' transportations reported in the recent literature. Emerg Care J 2015;11(1):12-18. https://dx.doiorg/10.4081/ecj.2015.4781 [ Links ]
3. Fan E, MacDonald RD, Adhikari NKJ, et al. Outcomes of interfacility critical care adult patient transport: A systematic review. Crit Care 2006;10(1):1-7. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/cc3924 [ Links ]
4. Hatherill M, Waggie Z, Reynolds L, Argent A. Transport of critically ill children in a resource- limited setting. Intensive Care Med 2003;29(9):1547-1554. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00134-003-1888-7 [ Links ]
5. Venter M, Stassen W. The capabilities and scope of practice requirements of advanced life support undertaking critical care transfers: A Delphi study. S Afr J Crit Care 2016;32(2):58-61. http://doi.org/10.196/SAJCC.2016.v32i2.275 [ Links ]
6. Health Professions Council of South Africa. Revised Clinical Practice Guidelines. http://www.hpcsa.co.2a/uploads/editor/UserFiles/CLINICAL_PRACTICE_GUIDELINES_2016.pdf (accessed 18 January 2017). [ Links ]
7. Paramedic Association of Canada. National Occupational Competency Profile for Paramedics. Ontario: Paramedic Association of Canada; 2011. http://www.paramedic.ca/uploaded/web/documents/2011-10-31-Approved-NOCP-English-Master.pdf (accessed 12 April 2016). [ Links ]
8. University of Florida. Critical Care Paramedic Certificate. United States: University of Florida; http://www.bcn.ufl.edu/academics/certificates/ccp/ (accessed 12 April 2016). [ Links ]
Correspondence:
M Venter
monique.venter@netcare.co.za