Pediatric transport FAQ
Why a pediatric/neonatal transport team?
- As a referring physician, you are responsible for selection of qualified personnel.
- Pediatric/neonatal patients require special skills, equipment and personnel.
- Pediatric/neonatal critical care transport team members have extensive experience in caring for pediatric and neonatal patients.
Why choose Methodist Children's Hospital and our transport team?
- Our team is trained to care for critically ill neonatal/pediatric patients.
- Patients receive care from board-certified/board-eligible intensive care specialists who are truly dedicated to those they serve.
- We are able to provide services not only to meet the child's physical needs, but their psychosocial, developmental and spiritual needs as well.
- Additionally, our caring staff considers the needs of the patients' families, recognizing that the hospitalization of a child impacts the entire family.
- Our commitment to family-focused care makes a real difference to families in difficult times.
What to tell the parents?
- Parents are an important part of the transport process.
- We ask that the parents remain at the referral hospital until the transport team arrives. This allows for the team to get appropriate consents signed and pertinent information about their child.
- Our neonatal/pediatric teams have pre-packaged envelopes that not only assist you in preparation for a transport but also have information inside for the parents (we have distributed these throughout the referral community and will give you a new packet upon arrival to pick up the patient or will send you more upon request).
Can family members fly or ride with the patient?
- Our goal is to leave the family unit of patient and parent intact throughout the transport process; however, there are factors such as weather, weights/balances and fuel requirements that leave this decision up to the pilot of the aircraft.
- If it is safe for a parent to fly, the parent will receive a safety briefing from one of the air carrier crew members before boarding and must be physically able to enter and exit the aircraft without assistance.
- On ground ambulance transports, a parent is able to ride in the front seat of the vehicle for safety purposes.