Iowa Neonatology Handbook: General

Neonatal Transport to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

Edward F. Bell, MD and Lou Ann Montgomery, PhD, RN, CCNS, CCRN
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

1. The neonatologist will page the primary call transport nurse on beeper 3210 and notify the nursing unit of the admission.
2. The primary call transport nurse will:
   1. Take report from the physician.
   2. Consult with the neonatologist regarding the preferred mode of transport.
   3. Contact the Air Care dispatcher (353-6440), inform dispatcher of preferred mode of transport, and request dispatcher assistance in assembling team.
   4. Inform the pediatric nursing supervisor of the transport, admission unit, and expected time of arrival at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
3. The Air Care dispatcher will call:
   1. Second call transport nurse (beeper #4645 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM or beeper #3210 3:00 PM - 7:00 AM).
   2. Respiratory therapist (for ground transport).
   3. Driver or pilot as requested.

NOTE: The call schedules for respiratory therapy and the second call nurse will be in the dispatcher's office. Any changes in the schedule will be communicated to the Air Care dispatcher.

4. The transport team will assemble at the Air Care dispatcher's office within 20 minutes.
5. The primary call transport nurse will contact the referring hospital and obtain nursing report and patient registration information by completing the Neonatal Pre-Transport Information Sheet. An ETA will be given to the referring hospital.
6. Upon admission to the NICU or Intermediate Care Nursery, a referring physician call-back card will be stapled to the front of the baby's chart by the unit clerk (or physician if no unit clerk is available). This card shows the referring physician's name and phone number and is used to document telephone reports by our staff to the referring physician. Calls to referring physicians are the responsibility of the staff physician (unless delegated to the fellow or resident). The frequency of such calls depends on the patient's condition and may vary from daily (for the newly admitted critically-ill infant) to monthly (for a long-term chronically-ill infant).

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