Children's Mercy Critical Care Transport Recognized with the 'Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Award of Excellence'
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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Tuesday, October 09, 2012Â - The Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics Critical Care Transport Team is honored by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) with the 2012 Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Award of Excellence.
"Our team began providing transport for critically ill infants in the late 1960's. Over the next 40 years, our team has developed into one of the most robust neonatal and pediatric teams in the country," says Sherry McCool RRT-NPS, MHA, CMTE, Director of Transport Services at Children's Mercy. "It is exciting to be recognized for our contribution to the advancements in neonatal and pediatric transport medicine. Our transport team members are highly skilled, dedicated and passionate about the care they provide to their patients."
Children's Mercy operates one of the top three busiest pediatric transport teams in the country, and handles more than 4,500 transports a year. The team, which provides support to more than 200 rural and community hospitals, has more than 90 staff members, including registered nurses, respiratory therapists, EMTs communication specialists, pilots and mechanics. The Critical Care Transport Team utilizes three modes of transport, including nine ground ambulances, a dedicated American Eurocopter EC-145 helicopter, and a Beechcraft King Air 200 fixed wing aircraft. The team utilizes advanced therapies on transport including high frequency ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide and neonatal whole body cooling. Children's Mercy is the only pediatric hospital in a region bordered by St. Louis, Denver, Omaha and Little Rock.
The AAMS Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Award of Excellence recognizes an individual or team that has made a significant contribution to the overall enhancement, development, leadership and/or promotion of neonatal/pediatric patient care, education, research or safety in the medical transport setting.
This is the fourth time the AAMS has honored Children's Mercy. In 2007, the Critical Care Transport Team was named 'Transport Program of the Year,' in 2006 the team received the 'Fixed Wing Award of Excellence,' and in 2005 the team received the 'Critical Care Ground Award of Excellence.'
The 'Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Award of Excellence' will be presented to the Children's Mercy Critical Care Transport Team this month at the 2012 Air Medical Transport Conference in Seattle.
About Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, located in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the nation's top pediatric medical centers. The 333-bed hospital provides care for children from birth through the age of 21, and has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Children's Hospitals" and recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services. Its faculty of 600 pediatricians and researchers across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research, and educating the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. For more information about Children's Mercy and its research, visit childrensmercy.org or download our mobile phone app CMH4YOU for all phone types. For breaking news and videos, follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
About The Association of Air Medical Services
Established in 1980, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is an international association which serves providers of air and surface medical transport systems. The association, a voluntary non-profit organization, encourages and supports its members in maintaining a standard of performance reflecting safe operations and efficient, high quality patient care. AAMS is built on the idea that representation from a variety of medical transport services and businesses can be brought together to share information, collectively resolve problems and provide leadership in the medical transport community. You can learn more at http://www.aams.org/.