Neonatal Transport Services
The Neonatal Transport Service at UCI Health provides swift intervention for newborns in need of specialized critical care services that only a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can offer. Critically ill newborns are safely transported in an ambulance specially equipped to provide an intensive-care environment. This around-the-clock emergency service is operated in concert with the UCI Health NICU.
The ambulance is staffed by a team of medical specialists who stabilize and safely transfer critically ill newborns to UCI Medical Center, including premature infants and twins, triplets or more. We also have a Maternal-Fetal Transport for high-risk mothers who need urgent care.
Upon arrival at the medical center, newborns are transferred to the NICU, one of only two Level III intensive care units for critically ill neonates in Orange County. This designation means that the NICU meets the rigorous standards set by the state of California to ensure it is equipped to provide the most advanced care to the smallest and sickest infants.
For more information, call us at 714-456-6428.
State-of-the-art care
The Neonatal Transport Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before transport, the team works to assess and stabilize the baby’s condition. Once the baby is stabilized, each transport unit is fully equipped to ensure safe and quick transfer to UC Irvine Medical Center.
Each transport unit includes:
- Whole body cooling therapy
- Special transport isolettes
- Heart and lung monitors
- High frequency and conventional ventilators
- Nitric oxide
- Blanket warmers
- Passive cooling
- Dedicated, specially trained drivers
- Enhanced hydraulics to ensure a smoother ride
- Ambient lighting to enhance relaxation
The Neonatal Transport Service is designed to quickly deliver critical care services by a multidisciplinary team of experts using the most advanced technology. The transport team, which includes a perinatologist and a nurse or respiratory therapist, is in constant contact throughout the transfer with UC Irvine Douglas Hospital, at UC Irvine Medical Center, rated one of the best hospitals in America by U.S. News & World Report.
When faster intervention or transport over a wide geographic region is needed, helicopter transport is available to bring newborns to the medical center.
Upon arrival, infants are transferred to the Level III NICU for expert care by a highly trained team of neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers and pharmacists.
