Birmingham, Ala.-based Children’s Hospital took delivery last month of a 1995 Bell 206L4, the first helicopter in the state dedicated and equipped exclusively for the transport of sick infants and children. Before its arrival last month, the hospital’s Care Flight critical care transport team shared helicopter services with other area hospitals.
The in-flight transport team consists of a registered nurse and a respiratory therapist. The helicopter is equipped with an incubator and other ICU equipment, according to Jason Peterson, program coordinator of the Care Flight transport team. The 11 registered nurses–including Peterson–and seven respiratory therapists have backgrounds in pediatric intensive care, trauma, burn, emergency medicine, neonatal intensive care and nitric oxide therapy. They are supported by a staff of 18 pediatric and neonatal medical control physicians, according to the hospital.
