Hi Gwyneth,
In our setting within the Paediatric Emergency Department in Malta, most emergency arrivals are first communicated through the ambulance control room. Typically, parents call the control center, and we are informed that a vehicle is approaching with the child's age and the presenting complaint or condition. Based on this information, we prepare the appropriate team and equipment in advance.
When patients arrive by private vehicle, they are usually directed immediately to the triage area or resuscitation room depending on the urgency of the situation. The team responds accordingly, and we guide the parents and patient to the most appropriate area based on their clinical needs. If the case is critical, staff initiate immediate assessment and management while alerting the relevant medical team.
While we may not have a single formalized protocol specifically for private vehicle arrivals, the workflow relies heavily on rapid triage assessment, clear communication among staff, and prompt redirection to the appropriate clinical area to ensure patient safety.
I hope this helps, and I would be happy to share further details if needed.
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Marie-Antoinette Debono MNSc;RN
Charge Nurse
Msida,Malta
maria-antoinette.debono@gov.mt
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2026 11:19 AM
From: Gwyneth Sharer, MSN;RN;CPEN;ACCNS-P
Subject: Private Vehicle Arrival benchmarking
Hello,
Our team is currently reviewing and standardizing our processes for staff response when patients with emergencies arrive to the ED in private vehicles or are brought in by law enforcement. We are interested in benchmarking with other institutions to better understand how your teams manage these situations-specifically workflows, safety considerations, and any established protocols or criteria you follow.
If your institution has defined procedures or best practices in place, we would greatly appreciate any insights, examples, or resources you're willing to share.
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Gwyneth Sharer MSN, RN, CPEN, ACCNS-P
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
sharerg@chop.edu
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