Neonatal Pediatric Transport Team at Children’s Hospital Expands Due to Increased Service Calls

The neonatal pediatric transport team at Children’s Hospital at London Health Science Centre (LHSC) has been providing critical care for unstable young patients since 1993. Now, due to a significant rise in service calls, the team is looking to expand to a third shift. The team, consisting of 20 nurses and respiratory therapists, travels by air and land to stabilize and transport patients as young as preterm infants up to 22 weeks back to the Children’s Hospital.

Increase in Service Calls

Since January, the team has received approximately 900 service calls, averaging six to eight calls per day. The initial calls come through CritiCall, an emergency consultation and referral service for physicians. From there, the transport team works with a physician to manage emergent needs and determine the equipment needed to safely treat and transport the patient to Children’s Hospital.

Wide Coverage Area

The team covers a large geographic transport area, stretching from southwestern Ontario to the Canada/U.S. border and as far as Fort Frances and Red Lake. They are one of only four teams in the province.

Praised for Excellence

Dr. Henry Roukema, the director of LHSC, praised the team for their superb knowledge of transport medicine and their ability to handle a variety of situations. He emphasized the agility required to effectively manage such cases.

Supporting EMS Partners

The team also works closely with EMS partners, including ORNGE, to transport patients by ground, fixed-wing aircraft, or helicopter when necessary.

Ongoing Education and Collaboration

The transport team actively engages with regional hospitals to provide in-moment education on equipment usage and knowledge sharing. This collaboration helps enhance future patient care.

Experienced in Diverse Cases

The Children’s Hospital transport team has extensive experience in transporting patients of all ages, including infants and teenagers. They take pride in their ability to provide care for a wide range of cases.

Gratitude and Impact

The team may face long travel times to reach their destinations, but they are consistently greeted with gratitude upon arrival. Both the team and the patients’ families appreciate the critical care they provide.