Transport

Transport responds to all emergency calls from referring physicians or institutions, including calls for transport, referral and consultation. Staffed by trained specialists, the Communications Center refers surgical consultation calls to the senior pediatric surgery fellow and medical emergencies and transport calls to Pediatric Intensive Care or Neonatology.

Arrangements for ground and air transportation are coordinated and monitored by the Communications Center communications specialist, with continuous updates provided to the receiving physician. Medical advice is provided to the referring physician for stabilization before transport. Backup from attending pediatric surgeons, pediatric and neonatal intensive care physicians is available 24 hours a day via phone dispatch. In addition, multiple conferencing capabilities enable consultation with appropriate specialists.

For serious or life-threatening medical or surgical cases, the Communications Center dispatches the transport team either by ground or air to pick up the children and accompany them back to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. The transport team is comprised of pediatric or neonatal critical care fellows, pediatric critical care nurses and respiratory therapists, with more than three years' critical care experience, who are specially trained to care for unstable or critically ill children during the transport process and to facilitate their admission and initial inpatient care.

Referral Requirements

Physicians should call 412-692-5000 for transport, referral and consultation. Referrals are required from primary care physicians or other Children’s Hospital specialty services. Referrals for patients enrolled in managed care insurance plans also may require authorization from the insurance provider and primary care physician.