News Releases

Intensive Care Nursery-on-Wheels Debuts

New pediatric ambulance provides superior care to the smallest patients

Houston, Texas, April 1, 2004 – Though the horn plays funny-bone tickling animal noises and the exterior displays a palette of pastels, Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital’s newborn Pediatric Transport Unit is seriously equipped to save lives. For the unit’s debut at the BP Houston Children’s Festival, April 3-4, the transport team will be on hand to delight little ones with the unit’s giggle factor and amaze big ones with its state-of-the-art, critical care services.

When patients are on board, it’s manned by a specialized medical transport team, which includes a neonatal nurse, neonatal respiratory therapist and paramedic.

Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital and American Medical Response have created a custom-built unit specialized to treat newborns and pediatrics. Equipment includes:

• Multiple ventilators and incubators, plus oxygen and compressed air outlets which enable the team to rapidly care for two patients during one trip.
• A medical heat warming lamp for the tiniest patients whose body temperatures can drop to dangerous levels.
• Blankets from a special warming cabinet to support and reassure children.
• An advanced navigational system which maps the routes, enabling the driver to arrive on the scene without delays, thereby saving crucial minutes.

The new transport vehicle brings the Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital to two units. The colorful, friendly pediatric transport unit will be open to visitors of all ages at the 16th annual BP Houston Children’s Festival set in downtown Houston. For more information about the festival, visit www.festivalsofhouston.com.

For more information, contact Media Relations.