Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati Adds Two New Ambulances Designed Specifically For Kids
CINCINNATI -- Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati recently purchased two new ambulances designed specifically for the transport of children. They are the only two ambulances of their kind in the tri-state area and will begin transporting children this week.
"Until now, in emergency situations, children were transported in ambulances designed for adults -- not kids," says Julie Shaw, R.N., M.S.N., M.B.A., C.E.N., director of Transport Services at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati. "Everything about our new ambulances says kids -- from the equipment to the staff to the décor."
The state-of-the-art equipment in the ambulances is designed specifically for the intensive care support of children. For example, the cardiac monitors have the range to record a newborn heartbeat, and the pulse oximeters feature child-sized probes for accurate readings.
The ambulances are equipped with invasive and non-invasive cardio-respiratory monitoring, defibrillators, newborn and pediatric ventilators, oxygen and compressed air, transport nitric oxide, chest drainage systems and cervical spine immobilization equipment.
The inside of the two ambulances is playful, soothing and child-like. One is decorated with blue moons and yellow stars; the other with a myriad of colorful fish and sea life. Both ambulances are equipped with a CD player and TV/VCR combo to play a child's favorite music or video during longer transports. There are also toys and stuffed animals available for the children to make the child as comfortable as possible in traumatic and frightening situations.
The two on-site, mobile intensive care units are completely owned and operated by Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati. A registered nurse, respiratory therapist and EMT who are skilled pediatric specialists accompany every child on each run. Another unique feature of the Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati team is the ability to include pediatricians, including neonatal and/or intensive care specialists, to join the transport team when a patient's condition warrants.
"The equipment combined with the specially trained pediatric team allows Cincinnati area newborns, children and teens to receive the most expert care available in our community," says Shaw.
The Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati transport team responds to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week for local, regional and international referrals. In 1999, 907 infants and children were transported to Cincinnati Children's by ground or air transport.
In addition to the two ambulances for local and regional transports, Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati also can transport patients via specially configured turbo-jet and Lear jet aircraft for long-distance travel.
The transport team has brought children from London, Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam, Hawaii and Puerto Rico to Cincinnati for services.
Contact Information
Jim Feuer,
jfeuer@chmcc.org, 513-636-4420
