prehospitaltohospital

Prehospitaltohospital refers to the continuum of patient care that begins when emergency medical services (EMS) respond to an incident and ends with the formal handover of the patient to hospital-based care. The concept emphasizes seamless transition and effective communication between prehospital responders and hospital teams to ensure timely, appropriate treatment.

Key elements of the prehospital-to-hospital transition include prearrival notification, on-scene stabilization, rapid and safe transport, and the transfer of essential clinical information. EMS personnel collect and relay vital signs, triage category, mechanism of injury, medications given, therapies performed, and suspected diagnoses. Handovers typically follow standardized formats to reduce information gaps, and may utilize electronic transfer of data, radio or secure messaging, and direct communication with receiving units.

The process is particularly critical for time-sensitive emergencies such as myocardial infarction, stroke, major trauma, and cardiac arrest, where prehospital decisions—such as destination selection, prehospital ECG interpretation, and early notification of specialized centers—can shorten door-to-treatment times and improve outcomes. Efficient handover also supports hospital preparedness, enabling rapid activation of appropriate teams and resources before the patient arrives.

Challenges in the prehospital-to-hospital transition include interoperability of information systems, variations in documentation quality, privacy concerns, and disparities between urban and rural EMS systems. Ongoing improvements involve standardized handover protocols, telemedicine links, interoperable electronic health records, and performance metrics that monitor handover completeness, time to definitive care, and patient outcomes. Related topics include emergency medical services, trauma systems, and regional stroke and STEMI networks.