Latest procedures for transfer of medical facilities in Vietnam

Latest procedures for transfer of medical facilities in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Latest procedures for transfer of medical facilities in Vietnam

Procedures for referral (also known as hospital transfer) according to Article 7 of Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT are as follows:

- Medical facility shall transfer the patient to a superior facility or a facility of same level as follows:

+ Medical facility shall notify and explain the patient or his/her legal representative the reasons for transfer of facility;

+ Medical facility shall sign the slip of transfer according to the form in Appendix 1 enclosed with Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT;

+ If the patient needs emergency treatment, the medical facility shall contact with the receiving facility; re-check the conditions of the patient before transferring; prepare vehicles and equipment for providing emergency treatment on the way to the receiving facility;

+ If the patient needs technical assistance from the receiving facility, the transferring facility shall provide the receiving facility with information about conditions of the patient and necessary assistance for preparation;

+ The slip of transfer shall be given to the medical officials going with the patient or the legal representative of the patient to provide for the receiving facility;

+ The transferring facility shall transfer the patient and the slip of transfer to the receiving facility.

- Procedures for transfer of patients to an inferior facility shall comply with regulations in points a, b, dd and e Clause 1 of Article 7 of Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT.

2. Regulations on transport of patients during the transfer of patient in Vietnam

According to Article 8 of Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT, regulations on transport of patients during the transfer of patient in Vietnam are as follows:

- For emergency cases: the medical facility shall prepare for transport of the patient as follows:

+ Ambulances or other suitable vehicles;

+ Medical equipment, emergency medicines for the patient (if any) during the transport;

+ The medical officials going with the patient shall be doctors, physician assistants and/or midwives in charge of supervising the handling promptly the development of condition of the patient during the transport and transporting the patient with conformable techniques according to the condition of the patient.

- For non-emergency cases:

Depending on the medical condition of the patient and the actual conditions, the medical facility shall guide the patient or his/her legal representative to choose a suitable form and vehicle of transport.

3. Reporting and handover of transfer of patients in Vietnam

Reporting and handover of transfer of patients according to Article 10 of CCircular 14/2014/TT-BYT is as follows:

- Contents of reports:

+ Monthly reports: medical facilities shall make reports according to the form in Appendix 2 enclosed with this Circular;

+ Biannual reports and annual reports shall be made according to the form in Appendix 5 enclosed with this Circular.

- Reporting:

+ Medical faculties affiliated to the Ministry of Health shall send the reports to the Ministry of Health (via Medical Service Administration);

+ Medical facilities affiliated to the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense or the Ministry of Transport shall send the reports to health authorities of Ministries (Health Administration - Ministry of Public Security, Military Health Administration - Ministry of National Defense, Health Administration - Ministry of Transport);

+ Medical facilities affiliated to the Departments of Health/Ministries/authorities (excluding medical facilities affiliated to the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Transport) and private medical facilities shall send the reports to the Departments of Health of the local areas;

+ Departments of Health, health authorities of the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense or the Ministry of Transport shall collect information and make a general report then send it to the Ministry of Health (via Medical Service Administration).

- Periodic and irregular handover in transfer of patients to learn from experience

+ The handover of transfer of patients between departments and divisions in a medical facility shall be carried out periodically every month;

+ Medical facilities shall carry out the handover with the directly inferior facilities periodically every 03 months;

+ The Ministry of Health, Departments of Health, Health authorities shall carried out the handover with medical facilities under their management periodically every 06 months;

+ The Ministry of Health shall carry out the handover of transfer nationwide every year.

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