The RWJBarnabas Health Pediatric Transport Team is New Jersey’s only dedicated pediatric and neonatal transport service. It’s available 24/7 and operates across more than a dozen hospital locations. This elite team—all members have at least five years of pediatric ICU experience—provides lifesaving care to critically ill infants and children during interfacility transport via ground or air. The goal of the service is to ensure continuity of pediatric intensive care, because every minute counts for critically ill infants and children.
The specialized team, which conducts about 3,500 transports annually, has recently deployed two new state-of-the-art ambulances, purpose-built to transport pediatric patients, from premature newborns up to young adults. Engineered for safety, performance, and clinical precision, these vehicles expand the team’s capabilities while enhancing care for New Jersey’s most vulnerable patients.
Some key highlights include:
- Fully staffed by highly trained pediatric nurses, respiratory therapists, and EMTs
- Advanced therapies like mechanical ventilation, CPAP/BiPAP, and vasoactive support are available en route
- ECMO and neurological monitoring capabilities during transport
- Integrated telehealth to support clinical decisions in real time
Reducing Stress for Patients and Families
The RWJBarnabas Health Pediatric Transport Team recognizes the stress that interfacility transfer can create for children and their families. Providers take steps to address the emotional needs of patients and make the experience more comfortable for everyone involved. For example, the ambulances include a TV system with Nintendo Switch, iPads, and games for kids of different ages. The distraction these items provide helps with stress reduction and pain management. The staff also has stuffed animals available to provide comfort.
Increasingly today, we can do remarkable things for sick and injured children, but successful treatment often hinges on quickly getting a child to the facility that can provide the specialized care needed. With its experienced providers and advanced capability ambulances, the RWJBarnabas Health Pediatric Transport Team is elevating pediatric critical transport in New Jersey.