Position Statement of ISCCM on Intrahospital Transport of Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Background and purpose: Intrahospital transport (IHT) of critically ill patients is essential for diagnostic and therapeutic indications, requiring thorough assessment and careful preparation of patients, staff, and equipment throughout the process. Variability in practices among hospitals can affect patient safety and may result in adverse events (AEs). This position statement is designed to provide guidance to multidisciplinary critical care teams in the adoption of evidence-based recommendations aimed at mitigating risks and improving safety during patient transport. Method: This position statement has been drafted by an expert committee on IHT constituted by the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine. The process involved thorough review of literature from electronic database using PubMed services. Recommendations made are tailored with considerations for Indian setting; the units may further modify these as per local needs and equipment and staffing available. The final manuscript was written after achieving consensus among members, and final draft was accepted by all the committee members. Results: This position statement offers a compilation of 38 strategic recommendations, which are comprehensive and deal with all aspects of IHT of the critically ill. Recommendations provided in this document are, therefore, applicable for routine use during the IHT. They cover all phases of transport and answer questions pertaining to pre-, intra-, and post-transport considerations. It will help to achieve uniformity, minimize AEs, and enhance safety. Conclusions: This is a standard set of 38 evidence-based recommendations to ensure safety for IHT, tailored for implementation in various criticalcare settings across India. Science is ever-changing, and periodic review will be needed to keep it up to date with emerging evidence and standards. © The Author(s). 2025.