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University Hospital's New Pediatric Ambulance Benefits Kids, Medical Team
Columbia, Mo. -- A trip to the hospital is never fun, but a new ambulance donated to University of Missouri Children's Hospital helps make the trip a little easier.
Rachel Roy and her family found that out first hand. Rachel, an 18-month-old from Sunrise Beach, Mo., was rushed by a local ambulance to the Lake Ozark Hospital Emergency Room last February. She had suffered a seizure that left her lethargic. The Children's Hospital Transport Team was immediately called and brought her to Columbia in their new pediatric ambulance. Today, Rachel is herself again, and the Roy family credits the transport team and the on-hand technology with saving her life.
The ambulance was donated in February by Paige, Nancy and William Laurie to help provide specialized care to young patients. Children from infancy to 15 years benefit from the ambulance's comforting surroundings and highly-equipped treatment capabilities. The graphics match the pediatric patient care areas at Children's Hospital and a picture of Truman Jr., the hospital's mascot, welcomes the children into the vehicle.
Inside, a blue sky, balloons, birds and an airplane on the ceiling provide a calming atmosphere and the floor of the ambulance resembles a city street. A built-in entertainment center features a 13-inch color television and VCR, am/fm radio and CD stereo with speakers mounted in the ceiling. This equipment helps create a diversion for the youngsters during such a traumatic time.
The ambulance also accommodates two full-size stretchers. One loads from the side and the other at the back. Seating for four allows for full team medical care for two patients at a time. The new ambulance literally mobilizes Children's Hospital Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. The new addition to the pediatric transport system was publicly unveiled in the lobby of University Hospital last week.
The ambulance's 21-member transport team is highly skilled in perinatal, neonatal and pediatric transportation. The team is composed of registered nurses, respiratory therapists, neonatologists, medics and pediatric intensivists. The ambulance -- the only one of its kind -- has allowed Children's Hospital to expand its transport services while better serving the children of Missouri.
"We feel honored to be part of this tremendous effort. We hope all families are comforted in knowing the expertise of Children's Hospital is just minutes away," William and Nancy Laurie said in a statement released at the unveiling ceremony.
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