MedBodh Clinical & Health Services | Editorial coverage: 25 October 2026
A practical medical-officer guide for safe referral from PHC or CHC to a higher-level facility. This is a general quality-improvement framework, not a new Uttarakhand government order.
Quick Note Sheet
- Category: PMHS / hospital operations
- Topic: PMHS / CHC Emergency Referral: Stabilisation, Documentation and Handover Checklist
- Key principle: verify the original source and patient-specific or institution-specific requirements.
- Scope: clinician education and safe operational practice.
Recognise time-critical illness
Rapidly assess airway, breathing, circulation, mental status, vital signs and immediate threats. Escalate emergencies such as severe respiratory distress, shock, stroke symptoms, major trauma, obstetric haemorrhage and critically ill children according to local protocols.
Stabilise without unsafe delay
Provide indicated resuscitation, oxygen, glucose assessment, bleeding control and other available interventions within staff competence. Do not delay urgent transfer for nonessential investigations.
Structured referral note
Record patient identifiers, working diagnosis, relevant history, allergies, vitals and trends, examination, treatments with doses and times, test results, reason for referral and clinician contact details.
SBAR handover
Situation: immediate concern. Background: key history. Assessment: current physiological status. Recommendation: requested action and urgency. Communicate with receiving facility whenever feasible.
Transport and closure
Choose appropriate transport and escort according to acuity and available resources. Document departure, destination, communication and confirmation of receipt. Audit delays and failed handovers without disclosing patient identifiers publicly.
Practical safety summary
| Before action | Confirm |
|---|---|
| Source | Current original label, official notice or institutional SOP |
| Applicability | Correct patient, course, service, route or programme |
| Safety | Contraindications, eligibility, documentation and follow-up |
| Communication | Record decisions and clarify discrepancies with the responsible authority |
Frequently asked questions
Can this article replace the official source?
No. It is a MedBodh educational interpretation. Follow the complete official document and locally applicable instructions.
Are all institutions and patients covered by one rule?
No. Product labels, clinical indications, patient characteristics and administrative instructions differ.
Primary reference
https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/clinical-services-and-systems
Editorial safety notice: This article does not establish a new government order or universal treatment protocol. Verify updates before acting.