2024 Nursing Annual Report

Critical Care Transport

Children’s CARE Flight Critical Care Transport is the only pediatric and neonatal team of its kind in Alabama. The team consists of critical care nurses and respiratory therapists who work with a medical director to transport patients requiring critical and lifesaving treatment to and from COA. The team receives transport calls from all over the Southeast with requests to transfer patients from outside health facilities to COA for a variety of medical needs. The team transports patients in either a ground ambulance, which is outfitted to operate as a mobile ICU; an Airbus EC145 helicopter, which was purchased by COA in 2020; or a fixed wing aircraft owned by UAB. The equipment on every transport is specifically designed for pediatric or neonatal patients and their needs. Specialized equipment such as pediatric and neonatal ventilators, inhaled Nitric Oxide therapy, multiple intravenous infusion pumps, and a specialized stretcher or temperature-controlled transport isolette are loaded for each trip. The method of transport depends on factors such as patient acuity, distance of transport, and weather conditions at the time of trip.

Accomplishments for 2024 included: • Mark Rogers, RN, completed his 5,000th trip with the team in June of 2024 • Debbie Smith, RRT, completed her 2,000th trip with the team in July of 2024 • The CCT team is 100% staffed with RNs and RRTs