Scant justification for interhospital transfers: a cause of reduced efficiency in the emergency department.

Introduction: Interhospital transfers are one of the critical points of the emergency system, which often cause overcrowding of the emergency department (ED) and limit its effectiveness.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out, analyzing the clinical case files concerning the ED of the Policlinico "Umberto I" in Rome (Latium region, Italy) with the aim of establishing the reasons for the numerous unjustified transfers.

Results: From 1 January to 30 June 2006, 77 597 admissions to the ED occurred, and 861 patients (1.