During a detour that causes delay on a high-acuity call, what is the appropriate course of action?

• A. Inform dispatch, reassess hospital destination, and consider the safest fastest route with updated ETA.
• B. Proceed to the nearest hospital regardless of conditions.
• C. Stop to reassess only after arriving at the hospital.
• D. Ignore the detour and continue as planned.

Answer: (A)

When a detour delays a high-acuity transport, the priority is to keep the patient moving toward definitive care as safely and quickly as possible while staying coordinated with the receiving facility. The best move is to quickly tell dispatch about the detour, reassess which hospital is most appropriate given the new route and patient needs, and choose the safest fastest route with an updated estimated time of arrival. Communicating the change allows the system to adjust bed availability, pre-arrival notifications, and resource deployment so care isn’t delayed. Reassessing the destination ensures you’re not locked into a plan that no longer serves the patient if a closer or better-equipped facility becomes the better option. Selecting the route with safety and speed in mind prevents taking unnecessary risks or getting stuck in traffic or road closures, and updating the ETA keeps the hospital prepared for arrival.

Proceeding to the nearest hospital regardless of conditions can ignore whether that hospital has the necessary capabilities or whether the detour makes that option suboptimal. Stopping to reassess only after reaching the hospital wastes critical time when route or destination changes could improve outcomes. Ignoring the detour and sticking to the original plan can compromise safety and delay definitive care.