Two policies for transferring patients within Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care are now in effect: Life, Limb and Threatened Organ (LLTO) and Higher Level of Care (HLOC).

The policies are to be used by referring or receiving physicians, VCH/PHC staff and the provincial Patient Transfer Network. Review the policies to understand the procedures, and your role, in these urgent situations when every minute counts.

What you should know about the LLTO policy

The revised policy outlines the procedures to follow when patients have a life, limb or threatened organ illness or injury and require immediate transportation to another hospital that can provide the required advanced level of care. Key points include:

• Receiving sites must accept the transfer of a patient in a LLTO situation when the services needed for the patient do not exist at the sending site.
• The transfer must occur within two hours.
• To initiate a transfer, the referring physician contacts the Patient Transfer Network at 604-215-5911 or toll free at 1-866-233-2337.
• Appendix A of the policy outlines the service capabilities of Lions Gate, Richmond, St. Paul’s and Vancouver General hospitals.
• Appendix B shows the primary referral patterns within VCH/PHC.
• The policy now specifically references critical care patients, mental health and addition patients and perinatal (maternal/newborn) and high risk paediatric patients.
• Visit VCH Connect to download the revised Life, Limb and Threatened Organ Transfer policy.

What you should know about the HLOC policy

The new policy outlines the procedures for transferring patients who require higher level of care services when the sending site does not have the services needed for treatment. Key points include:

• HLOC transfers are time sensitive depending on the patient’s clinical need, which will be discussed during a conference call with the receiving and sending physicians.
• To initiate a transfer, the referring physician contacts the Patient Transfer Network at 604-215-5911 or toll free at 1-866-233-2337.
• The policy doesn’t apply to transfers from other health authorities except in cases where a VCH/PHC site is the provincial resource for tertiary or quaternary services. It also doesn’t apply to LLTO situations.
• Appendix A of the policy outlines the service capabilities of Lions Gate, Richmond, St. Paul’s and Vancouver General hospitals.
• Appendix B shows the primary referral patterns within VCH/PHC.
• Visit VCH Connect to download the new Higher Level of Care Transfer policy.