Strong Regional Burn and Trauma Center
Patient & Visitor Information
Critical Care Transport Service
Specialized Equipment
The Critical Care Transport contains a specialized electrical
system to run sophisticated cardiac equipment. In case of mechanical
failure, a 7.5-kilowatt generator was installed, along with a customized
ventilator and compressed air systems.
The new transport’s
custom-designed lift, built eight inches longer than a traditional
lift, can simultaneously raise the patient, gurney, and life-support
equipment. This is especially important when transferring a patient
on a ventricular assist device (VAD), which relies on gravity to help pump the blood back through
the heart, and therefore can never be positioned lower than the
patient.
The result is a state-of-the-art vehicle that accommodates up
to six health care professionals inside the cabin, and is equipped
with specialized electrical power and multiple redundant systems
needed to run advanced life-support equipment that is typically
available only at major hospitals. Rural/Metro estimates that there
are only a handful of such vehicles nationwide, usually operating
out of major metro areas, or in regions with an academic medical
center.
Training
Rural/Metro paramedics underwent advanced intensive care training
at Strong Memorial Hospital to better assist during transport.
Twelve medics spent more than 40
hours each in the cardiac ICU gaining a thorough understanding of the sensitive
equipment that is now commonly used in cardiac patient transports.
“ A great deal of work has gone into this project with one purpose: to
provide the highest level of care for those critical patients in need of transport
from one hospital to another,” Rural/Metro Division General Manager Tim
Czapranski said. “I am proud of the team members who made this possible
through their dedication, flexibility and professionalism.”
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