A mobile pediatric ICU was unveiled Wednesday at Saint Francis Health System.
The hospital launched its mobile service, which allows teams to bring one of the most advanced forms of life support to critically ill patients, especially those in rural areas that need immediate care.
Hope Darrow, System Vice President of Heart and Vascular, tells KRMG this unit will allow them to retrieve critically ill patients, especially in a timely manner. She said the mobile unit is also for adults.
“As far as the adult team, it’s really going to allow us to retrieve patients that are in shock,” Darrow said.
This is needed for patients with life-threatening heart or lung failure, and the technology can temporarily take over the work of both. The mobile unit’s capabilities extend specialized critical care beyond the hospital walls, bringing needed care to critically ill patients sooner.
“We have found there are delays sometimes in transport of critically ill children to the hospital. Oftentimes, children initially don’t look as sick as they are until they are gravely ill,” Darrow said.
