Trauma Patient Transfer

For 24-hour physician-to-physician consultation with a trauma surgeon or for transfer of an injured patient, call the Main Line Health Transfer Center at 1.855.MLH.STAT (1.855.654.7828).

Patients who should be considered for transfer to a trauma center

Patients with the following clinical presentations are commonly transferred to a trauma center. However, physician consultation with a trauma surgeon is available if you feel your patient needs additional service not available at your facility.

Head / C-spine

  • Carotid or vertebral artery injury
  • Penetrating injuries or open fracture of the skull
  • GCS score less than 14 or lateralizing neurologic signs
  • Spinal fracture or spinal cord deficit

Chest

  • Cardiac rupture
  • Torn thoracic aorta or great vessel
  • Bilateral pulmonary contusion with Pa02/FI02 ratio less than 200
  • Bilateral rib fractures OR 2 or more unilateral rib fractures with the presence of pulmonary contusion
  • Significant torso injury with advanced comorbid disease (such as oral anticoagulant, coronary artery diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver or kidney disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus, or on immunosuppressant)

Pelvis / abdomen

  • Intestinal, liver, spleen, kidney or vascular injury
  • Any patient requiring damage control laparotomy
  • Hemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture
  • Complex pelvis/acetabular fractures

Spine

  • Any level of spine fracture with neurologic deficit
  • Neurologic deficit without spine fracture

Extremities

  • Fracture or dislocation with loss of distal pulses

High-risk patients

  • Patients receiving anticoagulant therapy which would place the patient at significant risk for internal or intracranial bleeding after trauma