AUDIT OF NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE TRANSPORT - CLOSING THE LOOP

To audit the effectiveness of changes in transport arrangements, data on babies ventilated during transfer into a neonatal unit were compare d between two periods. During the first period, August 1991-February 1 993, an ad hoc transport team operated. Transport practice was changed in 1993 by forming a nine-person nursing transport team, improving tr aining and upgrading monitoring. The second audit period was January 1 994-July 1995. The groups were not significantly different for birthwe ight, gestation or levels of ventilation. Physiological variables were assessed with a ''transport score''. Improved scores for temperature and pH were achieved on completion of transfer in 1994-95 compared to 1991-93. Stabilizing prior to transfer took longer in the 1994-95 peri od. No serious deteriorations occurred in transit in the 1994-95 perio d, three in 1991-93. Audit facilitates identification of problems in t ransport. Staff, education and equipment changes were associated with improved audited outcomes.