Hospital-to-hospital medical transfer in China

Clinical acceptance

Confirm the accepting department, clinician and admission window for this patient, including what records it needs before the move.

Sending-side release

Ask the current team when the patient may leave, what monitoring or oxygen is required and who hands over at the ward or entrance.

Road and arrival

Match vehicle and crew to positioning and equipment needs, then confirm where the receiving team takes over and how a delayed arrival is handled.

The receiving decision may be conditional

A receiving department may request recent information, a specialist conversation or confirmation that a bed will be available at a specific time. Record the precise condition rather than summarising the case as “hospital accepted”. Tell the sending clinician and transport provider what has actually been decided and who will reconfirm before departure. If the patient requires oxygen or monitoring in the vehicle, identify the responsible provider and receiving staff who will take over those supports. A change in patient status can invalidate the previous acceptance and vehicle plan; ask the facilities to reassess instead of attempting an unplanned emergency arrival.

Get a receiving instruction specific to this patient

Ask for the accepting department, named clinician or desk, information reviewed and any condition attached to acceptance. A general hospital address or an appointment request is insufficient for a clinically supported transfer. Confirm whether admission happens directly to a ward, through an assessment area or by another process decided by the receiving institution. That pathway determines the unloading point and who receives records and equipment. If the receiving window moves, ask for renewed acceptance before dispatch rather than having the road team improvise at arrival.

Match transport support to both sides of the handover

The sending clinician describes positioning, oxygen, observation and medication needs during movement. The actual transport provider confirms personnel, equipment and what it can deliver on the route; the receiving team confirms what support it takes over. Do not infer that every vehicle described as an ambulance offers the same staff or monitoring. If a condition changes before departure, request reassessment by the responsible teams. For a long road trip, clarify stops, duration and whether the original receiving time remains feasible before committing the move.

A final operational check

Before the vehicle leaves, obtain the destination team’s acknowledgement of the current arrival estimate and confirm which member of the sending team gives a direct clinical handover. A written address, patient name and booked vehicle without this acknowledgement still leave the crew uncertain where to go if the receiving department redirects the case.

Decision pathway

If acceptance is not confirmed, hold dispatch. If the patient deteriorates before departure, the sending clinician reassesses the move.

Information for a useful first enquiry

Sending and receiving hospitals/departments; acceptance contact; date; mobility, oxygen and monitoring; unloading point.

For detailed clinical records, use a direct authorised exchange rather than this public page.