Background: The transfer of patients between hospitals (interhospital transfer, IHT), exposes patients to risks of discontinuity of care, such as errors in communication and gaps in information transfer. In our prior work evaluating IHT to general medical (GMS), cardiology, oncology and ICU services at an 800-bed tertiary care referral hospital, we found that in 37% [...]

Background: Transitions of care, including Inter-Hospital Transfers (IHT), are known to be a period of elevated risk in patient care. Patients who are transferred via the IHT process face a higher inpatient mortality rate than patients who are not admitted via the IHT process1 as well as higher costs, longer length of stay, and lower [...]