Referral Patterns of Emergent Pediatric Hand Injury Transfers to a Tertiary Care Center

Several studies have identified the inappropriate use of emergent interfacility transfer as an opportunity to improve health care use. The authors sought to identify common characteristics among children who were transferred from a community hospital to a pediatric tertiary care center for definitive treatment of hand/wrist injuries. All patients undergoing emergent transfer to a pediatric Level I trauma center and academic tertiary referral center for evaluation and management of injuries to the hand/wrist during the 2-year study period were retrospectively identified. Demographic and transfer data were abstracted from the medical record. Referring hospitals were subcategorized by the presence or absence of hand surgical emergency department coverage and the capability to admit/operate on children. Overall, 169 patients were identified who transferred to the authors' institution for hand injuries. There were no differences in the day or time of transfer. Of those transferred, 59 (35%) were admitted for definitive care, of whom 51 (86%) required a surgical intervention within 24 hours. Of the remaining 110 (65%) patients discharged from the emergency department, 27 (25%) underwent elective surgical intervention within 2 weeks. There were a greater number of transfers from institutions without the ability to admit children, regardless of hand surgical emergency department coverage status. Understanding pediatric referral patterns may improve use of emergency department facilities because most patients who were transferred were discharged the same day. Educational outreach and improved interfacility communication may result in enhanced resource use for evaluation and management of pediatric hand injuries.