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Emergency/Disaster in Nearby Community

TRANSFER AND DISCHARGE OF PATIENTS DURING EXTERNAL EMERGENCY

POLICY:

In the event of an external emergency/disaster which requires the use of beds in the hospital, those patients who are made ambulatory or those patients not in an acute phase of their illness, will be transferred or discharged with the concurrence of the physician on call. The attending physician shall be notified as quickly as possible. Patient's families will be notified of the transfer or discharge as soon as possible. Transfer or discharge shall not be carried out if, in the opinion of the patient's physician, such transfer or discharge would create a medical hazard.

PROCEDURE:
The Nursing Supervisor will determine the acuity of the patient, will contact the physician, notify him/her of the situation and obtain confirmation for discharge or transfer of the patient. The facility to which the patient is being transferred will be contacted for bed availability. The hospital will arrange transportation for those patients being transferred to other facilities. Families of those patients who can be discharged to their homes will be contacted to allow sufficient time to make transportation arrangements.

The patients will be transferred immediately to a facility most appropriate for rendering definitive care.

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207