Interhospital Transport of Children with Peripheral Venous Catheters by Personal Vehicle

Purpose: Most children seeking emergency care are initially evaluated in community EDs, yet many require secondary transport to a tertiary care center for further management. Interhospital transport via ambulance vs. patient’s own vehicle (POV) is considered depending on a patient’s clinical needs and physiologic stability; however, it is routine practice to transport stable patients by ambulance based solely on the presence of a peripheral vascular catheter (PIV). Though not yet formally studied, commonly cited barriers to pediatric transport by POV include caregiver satisfaction, patient safety/comfort, and potential PIV complications. The purpose of this study is to …