Enhancing Patient Safety during Intra-Hospital Transport: A Critical Analysis of Adherence to Intra-Hospital Transport Protocol among Healthcare Personnel of ICU in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Intra-hospital transport of critically ill patients is complex and carries potential risks. Despite its importance, adherence to protocols within ICUs is often unclear. Aim: This study investigated adherence to an intra-hospital transport protocol and associated adverse events in a tertiary care ICU. Methods: Observation of 72 transport events across MICU, SICU, and RICU. A checklist assessed adherence before, during, and after transport. Results: 68.1% transport was originated from MICU for diagnostics procedure. An intra-hospital transport team of four usually managed the process. Pre-transport checklist compliance was moderate (66.6% and 75% for backup cylinder and ventilator checks, respectively), while perfect adherence was observed during and after transport. Cardiovascular adverse events (tachycardia, hypertension, hypotension) were common, but less frequent than agitation compared to previous studies. Discussion: Adherence to the protocol, particularly during and after transport, was high. Yet, pre-transport compliance needs improvement. The study underlines the importance of protocols and suggests further research on pre-transport checks and adverse events. Conclusion: Protocol adherence during ICU transport is vital for patient safety. Future research should address pre-transport compliance and broaden the scope of adverse events for comprehensive risk management.