03/24/2026
We want to take a moment to address recent inaccurate concerns about patient transfers from Desert View Hospital.
As a Critical Access Hospital, our primary responsibility is to ensure that every patient receives the appropriate level of care for their medical needs. In some cases, this means transferring patients to another facility that has specialized services, advanced equipment, or higher-level care capabilities that are not available locally.
These transfers are made based on several important factors, including:
Access to specialists or advanced care (such as trauma or intensive care services)
Availability of beds and necessary medical resources
Coordination within an established network to ensure continuity and efficiency of care
Compliance with federal requirements, including EMTALA regulations
When a transfer is needed, the care team discusses the decision, including the reasons, risks, and benefits, with the patient or their family whenever possible. Our goal is always to ensure a safe transition and the best possible outcome for the patient.
We also want to clarify that this process is not about limiting choice, but about providing timely access to the right level of care. Keeping patients within an established network often helps streamline communication between providers, supports continuity of medical records, and can reduce delays in treatment.
It’s important to clarify a common misunderstanding regarding the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA). The PSDA is focused on protecting a patient’s right to make decisions about their medical care, particularly regarding advance directives and end-of-life preferences. It ensures patients have a voice in their care and that their wishes are respected.
However, the PSDA does not govern or determine where patients are transferred for higher levels of care. Transfer decisions are based on clinical needs, safety, and access to appropriate medical services, not on advance directive policies.
At Desert View Hospital, our focus is, and always will be, on delivering safe, appropriate, and patient-centered care to our community.
