Inter-facility transfer

An inter-facility transfer is the transport of a patient from one medical facility to another — for example from an acute hospital to a specialist clinic, to rehabilitation or to a care home. Patients travel lying down, seated or in a wheelchair, are collected from the ward and handed over to the nursing staff at the destination.

Also called: hospital transfer · interhospital transfer · secondary transport · patient transfer between hospitals

The ward books the transport with a time window, case number and the required type of transport. Our staff collect the patient from their room, take charge of the documents and secure the patient in the vehicle. At the destination, the patient is taken to the ward and handed over verbally to the responsible nurse — with the documents in hand, not left at reception.

Luggage, aids such as a rollator or walking sticks and personal belongings travel along. At Mobimed, these are not extras but part of the journey.

For the transfer to go smoothly, the ward prepares the transfer report, the current medication plan and, if needed, X-rays or data media. Information on allergies, mobility, oxygen requirements and nutrition is also helpful. The transport team takes everything along in an envelope and hands it over in person.

Coordination with the receiving institution is just as important: is the room ready, who will receive the patient, and by when must they arrive? A clear time window prevents waiting on both sides — every unnecessary wait is a strain for the patient.

Relatives should ideally be informed and can travel along on request; at Mobimed free of charge.

Typical transfers in the Basel region run between the University Hospital, the Kantonsspital Baselland (Cantonal Hospital Basel-Landschaft) sites in Liestal and on the Bruderholz, rehab clinics such as REHAB Basel or Reha Rheinfelden, and care homes. Mobimed carries out these journeys lying down, seated or in a wheelchair.