Organisation des TGV sanitaires « Chardon » pendant la crise COVID-19

The health crisis of the COVID-19 has put a strain on the health system in France. In order to avoid saturation of the intensive care units, the government decided to transfer patients. In addition to land and air transfers, it was decided to carry out transfers by high-speed train (TGV), following on from the” Chardon ” exercise carried out a year earlier. Transfers by high-speed train required a complex organization. This organization must coordinate sending hospitals, receiving hospitals, SAMU of different defense zones, different partners (medical carriers, first aid association...). Each TGV can evacuate 24 resuscitation patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome. The patients meet precise selection criteria. In each car, for patients are cared four by a senior doctor, a junior doctor, four nurses and a logistician. The coordination is ensured by a chief medical officer assisted by a dispatcher assistant and a logistician. There have been 10” Chardon ” missions, allowing the safe transfer of 202 patients. They have shown the effectiveness of mass inter-hospital transfers for severe patients by high speed train. This strategy is now part of the options in case of exceptional health situations.