Vehicle Will Transport Critically Ill Children between Hospitals

The team at Nemours calls it an intensive care unit on wheels. This new, neonatal and pediatric critical care transport ambulance arrived in Orlando’s Lake Nona Medical City on Thursday morning and will become a vital tool in getting infants and children to and from life-saving care at Nemours Children’s Hospital (NCH).

“Nemours’ new ambulance is going to save lives,” said Al Torres, MD, chief of critical care and transport at Nemours Children’s Hospital. “This unit has all the equipment necessary to deliver critical care, and that allows our team to begin that care immediately. It feels like an intensive care unit — one that happens to be in motion.”

The new ambulance is twice the size of a traditional ambulance, allowing two patients to be transported at once if needed. The back cabin has enough space for two specially trained registered nurses or respiratory therapists.

“Nemours has a large team of world-class pediatric specialists who are trained to care for the most critically ill infants and children,” said Robert Bridges, chief executive of Florida operations for Nemours. “This ambulance allows us to safely transport more children to our Nemours experts.”

Some special features of the new ambulance include the following:

• State-of-the art technology called Criticool. The machine allows the Nemours transport team to safely cool newborns, which can prevent neurological damage and is recommended care for neonates after cardiac arrest.
• Colored overhead lights. Children can choose their favorite color, similar to a feature at NCH that allows them to “paint” their patient room.
• Video monitors in the front cabin. Parents in the front seat can watch over their kids via a live video feed of the back cabin.

The ambulance was purchased with financial support from philanthropists in the community, including the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, Johnny and Pamela Hollaway, The Joe R. Lee Family Foundation, John and Carolyn Lord and Marc and Sharon Hagle. The Nemours gala that specifically raised funds for the ambulance was chaired by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and his wife Grace.

About Nemours

Nemours (nah-MORS) is an internationally recognized children’s health system that owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Childrenin Wilmington, Del., and the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, along with major pediatric specialty clinics in Delaware, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Established as The Nemours Foundation through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. du Pont, Nemours offers pediatric clinical care,research, education, advocacy and prevention programs to all families in the communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.