Hospital expands efforts to transfer patients more efficiently by adding 2 ambulances

A New Hampshire hospital is building on its work to handle patient transfers more quickly and efficiently by dedicating two specially equipped ambulances to its transfer center.

Catholic Medical Center in Manchester is among several hospitals with transfer centers that allow it to quickly receive patients who need specialized care from other hospitals. Such centers streamline the process because dedicated staff immediately connect the referring physicians to their peers in other hospitals for consultations and then take care of details such as bed assignments.

But actually moving patients can be a problem, particularly from hospitals in the state's North Country, where there are few ambulances to cover significant territory. Catholic Medical Center is partnering with AMR Ambulance to provide two ambulances just for its transfer center.