Dr Andrew Hooper1
1RFDS Western Operations, Palmyra, Australia
Abstract:
RFDS Western Operations has developed a dedicated bariatric transfer platform, capable of transporting patients weighing up to 285kg.
The custom designed stretcher was designed to be safely secured in St. John Ambulance road vehicles as well as the RFDS PC-12 retrieval aircraft. This allows a seamless inter-facility transfer, whilst reducing the risks to patients and staff associated with moving bariatric patients between different stretchers.
RFDS Western Operations have used this system within WA since 2015, and in March of this year performed our first interstate bariatric transfer, flying over 7000km across three days.
This hotspot presentation will give an insight into the logistics, aviation and clinical challenges and associated with this retrieval.