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Show Intensive Care Unit At U of U Aids Infants Teams from the University of Utah Intermountain Newborn Intensive Care Center covered nearly 155,000 miles in transporting critically ill infants from seven western states during 1975. That's the focus of a report prepared by university hospital admininstrators who said the ground and air miles involved are probably more than those covered by any single hospital transport system in the United States. "The unique geographical configuration of the Intermountain West and the fact that the newborn center IN ICC) is the only such facility close to many of the states are the reasons behind the extensive mileage," according to Assistant Administrator Dennis Brimhall. Airborn transports accounted for the bulk of miles nearly 144,000 while transportation via ground ambulance involved 11,000 miles, Mr. Brimhall said. The air miles were logged in 310 transports. Two hundred-ninety were made via ground tran sportation. The seven states involved were Utah (375 transports), Montana (60). Idaho (117), Wyoming (30), Nevada (15, Colorado l, and Arizona (1). INICC officials predict newborn transports will increase gradually to a peak of 700 for future calendar years, Mr. Brimhall said. He pointed out that a corps of eight highly trained nurses handle the majority of the transports under the super-, vision of resident neonatologists and senior faculty members. Generally two nurses will go on the journey to pick up the ill newborns. They are accompanied by a resident if the case is extremely severe. "Transport team members are responsible for evaluating the baby when they arrive at their destination, and they stabilize and sustain the finfant with a vast array of life support equipment while enroute to university hospital," the assistant administrator added. The total number of transports does not reflect the actual number of babies making trips, because premature multiple births are often involved. Also, some of the transports include taking the baby or babies back, after they are well enough, to the referring hospital. "By allowing the babies to return to the referring hospital for final recovery, costs to the families can be kept down." Mr. Brimhall said. |
