Standardised early warning scores in rural interfacility transfers: A pilot study into their potential as a decision-making aid.

Introduction: While 12.4% of British Columbians live rurally, only 2.0% of specialists practise rurally, making interfacility transport of high-acuity patients vital.

High acuity rural transport: findings from a qualitative investigation.

Introduction: The High Acuity Response Team (HART) was introduced in British Columbia (BC), Canada, to fill a gap in transport for rural patients that was previously being met by nurses and physicians leaving their communities to escort patients in need of critical care. The HART team consists of a critical care registered nurse (CCRN) and registered respiratory therapist (RRT) and attends acute care patients in rural sites by either stabilizing them in their community or transporting them. HART services are deployed in partnership with provincial ambulance services, which provide vehicles and coordination of all requests in the province for patient transport.