Organization and perspectives of the paediatric mobile intensive care units in France — Results of the GFRUP survey

Abstract

Since 35 years, transportation of critically ill children is provided by neonatal and paediatric specialized mobile intensive care units (SMUR), which significantly improved patient support and transfer. Since 2005, the French regulation progressed when the Directorate for Hospitalization and Organization of Care classified interhospital transport into three categories according to the health care provider present during the transport (doctor in medicine, nurse or paramedics). It also detailed the objectives as well as the human and material resources required for each kind of transport. Further, a study conducted in 2011 by the French-speaking group of paediatric intensive care and emergency medicine (GFRUP) showed that most of the French regions have already got specialized SMUR teams, although their organization and activity reports still considerably varied according to their location. The dedicated medical staffs remained limited, while nursing staffs increased. Currently, the main paediatric SMUR teams perform primary transports and secondary transports of older children and take part in the regulation of paediatrician calls. The national group of paediatric SMUR coordinates various projects, aiming to develop teaching, evaluation and research within the speciality.