As part of the protocol, who is responsible for transporting the patient after BLS transfers to ALS?

• A. The BLS ambulance will transport the patient.
• B. The hospital transport team will transport the patient.
• C. The patient will be transported by private vehicle.
• D. The ALS ambulance will transport the patient.

Answer: (D)

When BLS hands off to ALS, the ALS unit takes responsibility for transporting the patient. This preserves continuous ALS-level care throughout the move, with the same crew and equipment that are already managing the patient’s airway, breathing, circulation, and monitoring. The BLS unit’s role is finished once ALS has taken over, so it does not continue the transport. Hospital transport teams are typically used for nonemergency interfacility transfers, not for scene-to-hospital transport under an ALS protocol. A private vehicle is unsafe and not appropriate for transporting a patient requiring ALS care.