Best Care, as we know, is a commitment to providing the right care for the right patient at the right time in the right setting for the best possible outcome.
But that commitment isn’t confined to onsite at UTMB hospitals and clinics. It extends in many directions under many circumstances, including to our Emergency Services partners that transport patients to UTMB hospitals when they are their most vulnerable.
Health care professionals and EMS providers are partners in care, working together to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients starting the moment an emergency call goes out.
As such, it’s important for those EMS providers to stay on top of issues that can affect patients en route to the hospital.
Dr. Maria Franco-Fuenmayor understood the assignment.
Franco-Fuenmayor is an assistant professor of Pediatrics and co-director of the Preemie Follow-up Clinic with the UTMB Health Department of Pediatrics.
To help ensure that some of the most fragile patients—neonates—are handled with care, Franco-Fuenmayor provided our EMS partners with five tips on how to transport them safely and effectively.
- Ensure that the baby is properly restrained regardless of illness severity. Proper positioning during transport is important for everyone’s safety and to render treatment most effectively.
- Know how to position equipment for vital sign monitoring. For example, pulse oximetry can be wrapped around the wrist or on the foot.
- Keep an eye on the temperature and glucose, as neonates are predisposed to hypothermia and hypoglycemia. Hypothermic babies can get themselves in trouble quickly including becoming hypoglycemic. Checking glucose can help identify potential causes and ensure prompt treatment.
- Be prepared to manage their airway. Respiratory distress can lead to bradycardia and can be followed by apnea. Neonates are obligate nose breathers, and suctioning can be helpful. Protocol from the Neonatal Resuscitation Program considers the differing physiology in the neonatal period.
- Babies can have notoriously difficult IV access. If you’re unable to place an IV, intraosseous can be considered based on availability of equipment, training and experience.
“When we talk about Best Care, we don't simply mean caring for patients within our facility walls," Franco-Fuenmayor said. "It means understanding that our impact extends beyond the care we provide in the hospital and partnerships embedded within our community.
"Emergencies, by definition, can’t be planned for, of course, but educating emergency services providers about general best practices is one way we can extend Best Care to a vulnerable population," she said. "Proper transport of these fragile patients plays an important role in their care.”