In a transition of patient care from a BLS unit to an ALS unit, which vehicle is responsible for transporting the patient?

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

Answer: (A)

When ALS assumes care during a transfer, the ALS unit should transport the patient to ensure continuous, higher-level care en route. The ALS ambulance is equipped to provide advanced interventions, monitoring, and medications as needed, so transitioning transport responsibilities to them maintains safety and treatment without interruptions.

Stated differently, keeping the transport with the ALS unit prevents gaps in care that could occur if a BLS unit continued to transport or if a hospital transport team or private vehicle were used. A BLS unit isn’t prepared to sustain ALS-level interventions during transport. A hospital transport team is typically used for interfacility moves rather than an acute EMS field transfer, and private vehicles are unsafe and inappropriate for medical transport.