When to Call for a Critical Care Transport
Typically less than 10 percent of the patients transported by traditional "adult" transport teams are under the age of 14. These systems often do not have the pediatric specific equipment and experience to optimally manage critical care transports for neonatal and pediatric patients. Specialized transport teams have been shown to improve survival rates for neonates and pediatric patients. "Transport of critically ill children to a pediatric tertiary care center can be conducted more safely with a pediatric critical care specialized team than with teams lacking specific training and expertise in pediatric critical care and pediatric transport medicine." Pediatrics 2009; 124:40-48
The American Academy of Pediatrics' national guidelines recommend the use of neonatal/pediatric specialty team for the transfer of all patients meeting the following criteria:
- Any patient for whom ICU admission is anticipated at the receiving hospital.
- Patients with respiratory distress that may progress during transport.
- Patients with a recent life-threatening event, although stable at the time of transfer.
How to Access the Critical Care Transport Team & Hours of Operation
Information Needed for Transport
- Child's name, age, weight, date of birth
- Medical history and allergies
- Vital signs and assessment of ABC's
- Chief complaint and present condition - especially level of consciousness
- Treatments/medications initiated
- IV's
- Referring physician name and call back number
Transport Dispatch Process
Children's Mercy physicians including Neonatologists, Pediatric Intensivists, and Emergency Room Attending physicians are conferenced in on all transport requests with the referring physician and the transport crew members
Children's Mercy physicians and transport crew members determine the appropriate mode of transport for the patient; ground ambulance, helicopter or fixed wing
The transport team is dispatched immediately
The referral facility is notified of the mode of transport and given an estimated time of arrival
A hospital bed is secured for the patient
Preparation and Stabilization of the Patient
EMTALA / Cobra transfer form
Admission data sheet
History and physical
Physician progress notes including discharge summary if inpatient
Nurses' notes
Laboratory results
X-rays/CT scans/Ultrasound (films or disc)
Mother's chart (neonatal transports)
For stabilization measures please inquire with the medical control physician when initiating transport. Otherwise follow the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for the Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Advanced Pediatric Life Support, or Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
Updated: 7/6/2009