Transfer Assessment and Communication Tool (TACT): From Level IV NICU to Less Acute Levels of Care (PS1A)

Research demonstrates that when the risk for an acute clinical change or deterioration is low, infants can receive safe, affordable care, within their own communities. However, impaired provision of health services, decreased parent satisfaction with hospital care, and increased the risk of rehospitalization have been shown to occur when infants are transitioned from one unit to another. The TRAT offers neonatal healthcare providers the opportunity to standardize their approach, helping them to communicate the infant’s needs in a way that can easily be shared with receiving units, between providers. The TRAT consists of 12 categories, comprised of 74 characteristics, and takes approximately 2-3 minutes to complete, and most categories require only one response. Potential important benefits of the TRAT include improved communication across healthcare teams, reduced risk for readmission, and increased parental visitation leading to better developmental outcomes and parent preparation for hospital discharge.