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Levels of care

1. Level 0: Ward patient
2. Level 1: Ward patient needing critical care team input
3. Level 2: HDU care: single failing organ
4. Level 3: ITU care: multiple failing organs - 3-4 times more expensive than routine ward care

Admission criteria

1. Disease treatable / reversible
2. Two or more organs affected
3. Does not breach wishes of patient

Transfer of Critically Ill

1. Primary transfer
   • From scene of trauma to hospital
   • Managed and organised by pre-hospital team
2. Secondary transfer
   • Transfer between hospital (eg to neurosurgical units)

Necessary equipment

1. Support
   • Oxygen
   • Ventilator
   • Suction
2. Monitoring
   • ECG
   • Sats
3. Emergency treatment
   • Fluids
   • Defibrillator
   • Drugs -

Modes of transportation

1. Ground - Ambulance
2. Air - Helicopters / planes (RFDS)
   • Risk of hypoxia (due to altitude)
   • Gaseous exansion leads to tension pneumothorax - prophylactic bilateral chest drains
3. Sea