• Emily C Krennerich, Jeanine M Graf, Lara S Shekerdemian, Deborah D'Ambrosio, and Mona L McPherson.
• All authors: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
• Pediatr Crit Care Me. 2022 Sep 1; 23 (9): e408e415e408-e415.

ObjectivesAssess the implementation of a new centralized communication center and the effect on our institution's interfacility transport team's ability to respond to requests for patient transport.DesignRetrospective review of data over 12 months prior to opening compared with 12 months after implementation of our centralized communication center.SettingQuaternary academic pediatric hospital system with three campuses, a specialized transport team with expertise in pediatric, neonatal, and maternal-fetal critical care, and a new centralized hospital system communication center.PatientsAll patients for whom transport to our hospital system was requested within the review period.InterventionsOur hospital developed a multidisciplinary, centralized hub incorporating technology and integrated electronic tracking systems to coordinate real-time patient flow including intra- and interhospital transfers. One function of this center is to provide a communication center for critical care transports. Multiple new protocols and processes for transport were implemented upon opening.Measurements And Main ResultsAfter implementation, total transports increased 60% (from 1,200 to >1,900 transports/yr). Team dispatch time decreased 40% from 57-34 minutes. Time from initiation of call to physician acceptance decreased 15% (median, 27-23 min). Over the same interval, there were 59% fewer lost transport opportunities. With this growth, our program was able to expand our transport program in scope and numbers.ConclusionsA centralized communication center for pediatric hospital patient flow that included specialized critical care patient transport has increased transport capacity and enhanced efficiency throughout our multicampus hospital system.Copyright © 2022 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies.

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