Head injury patients are preferentially transported to a neurosurgery-capable surgical care hospital only if the resulting transport delay is less than how many minutes by ground or air?

• A. 10 minutes
• B. 15 minutes
• C. 20 minutes
• D. 25 minutes

Answer: (B)

In head injury care, time to definitive neurosurgical treatment is crucial. If you can reach a neurosurgery‑capable hospital within the next fifteen minutes, it’s best to divert there directly because you gain rapid access to definitive care such as imaging and potential surgical intervention, which can improve outcomes. If the anticipated delay to reach that center would exceed fifteen minutes, prioritize getting stabilization at the nearest appropriate facility and arrange a rapid transfer, rather than adding delay by continuing toward a farther center. This same fifteen‑minute threshold applies regardless of whether the transport is by ground or air.