6 min readDraft — not clinically reviewed
Escalation and retrieval from a small site
How to decide when to escalate, who to call, and what to do while you wait.
Rural stations reward doctors who escalate early, communicate clearly and keep caring for the patient while help is hours away.
Decide
- What does this patient need that we can't safely provide here?
- How quickly could they deteriorate, and how long will retrieval take?
- Is there treatment I should start now rather than wait for?
Call
- 1Use a structured handover: who you are, the situation, background, your assessment, and exactly what you're asking for.
- 2Involve the right people: the retrieval service, the receiving specialist, and senior support by phone or video.
- 3Agree a plan for the time before the team arrives, including what would change it.
While you wait
- Keep reassessing and documenting.
- Prepare the patient, the paperwork and the family for transfer.
- Look after your team and the rest of the hospital.
In the exam
Name the distance and the time, and show what you'd do with what's on site.
