Children’s Hospital at Erlanger has unveiled two cutting-edge critical care transport vehicles that will expand its ability to deliver intensive care to newborns and children across a 150-mile radius.
Custom-built for neonatal and pediatric patients, the new vehicles provide the same level of care as a neonatal or pediatric intensive care unit while en route to Erlanger. The additions mark a major step forward in the hospital’s capacity to deliver lifesaving care outside the walls of its facility.
The mobile ICUs are outfitted with advanced medical equipment and staffed by specialized transport teams. Each crew includes a pediatric registered nurse and a pediatric respiratory therapist, with support from a neonatologist or critical care nurse practitioner as needed. In a rare feature for pediatric transport, the ambulances include separate seating for a parent, allowing them to remain near their child throughout the journey.
The state-of-the-art capabilities include:
• Advanced respiratory support systems
• Therapeutic hypothermia treatment for hypoxic brain injuries
• Arterial and intravenous line placement and monitoring
• Onboard lab work, lifesaving medications and continuous IV drips
• Customized infant isolettes to transport fragile newborns
• Real-time monitoring and interventions
“Our teams have spent the past three years developing this project with one goal in mind: meeting the needs of the region’s most vulnerable patients,” says Robbie Tester, Erlanger vice president of patient logistics. “These neonatal and pediatric mobile intensive care ambulances will be the first in Tennessee capable of transporting both mother and baby in the same unit when needed.”
The launch of the vehicles represents the culmination of a multi-year planning and fundraising effort spearheaded by the Erlanger Foundation. Thanks to a mix of major contributions and grassroots support, the hospital reached its $1.6 million fundraising goal to fully finance the transport units.
“Through the generosity of multiple six-figure contributions, along with numerous additional gifts from donors deeply connected to this critical need, we achieved our $1.6 million fundraising goal,” says Stefanie Wittler-Beavers, director of major and planned giving at the Erlanger Foundation. “This support will enable us to expand access to Erlanger’s highest level of pediatric care for more newborns and children in need.”
The ambulances also feature child-friendly, jungle-themed artwork with colorful animals and lush greenery – an intentional design choice meant to ease the anxiety of pediatric patients and create a more welcoming environment.
The new vehicles enhance a full spectrum of transport options now available at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, which also includes air transport capabilities. Together, these resources ensure critically ill infants and children throughout the region receive immediate, specialized care – no matter where they begin their journey.