AMARILLO, TEXAS (October 8, 2018) – BSA Hospital is proud to announce the launch of neonatal transportation through Apollo MedFlight, a critical care air ambulance service provided for babies born prematurely who need highly-‐specialized treatment. BSA began offering neonatal transportation through Apollo MedFlight on September 21.
The BSA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) transportation team flies to rural communities to transport babies by airplane from area hospitals to the Level III designated BSA NICU. The NICU transport service is also able to transfer babies from BSA to referral hospitals for surgical or other medical needs. BSA utilizes one of Apollo MedFlight’s state-‐of-‐the-‐art King Air 90 aircrafts for the trip. During the flight, a specialized team comprised of a NICU physician or nurse practitioner, nurse, respiratory therapist and Apollo flight crew member care for the baby.
“Although it’s recommended for high-‐risk pregnancies to deliver at a hospital with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, sometimes it’s inevitable that a birth happens in a hospital without a high level of neonatal care,” said BSA NICU and Women’s Services Director Patty Mathies. “That’s why the need for specially-‐trained personnel is important to ensure that our areas tiniest patients are transported safely to BSA.”
To monitor the baby’s heart and lungs during transport, the baby is placed in an isolette that provides a warm, quiet environment.
“We are equipped with ventilators, monitors, IV pumps and different types of medication to provide the highest level of critical care for our babies during transport,” said BSA Neonatologist Dr. Kelly Clements. “Once we arrive at BSA, the infant is immediately taken to our Level III designated NICU where we have 24-‐hour coverage by a team that works collaboratively to give babies the care they need.”
The BSA NICU’s state-‐of-‐the-‐art technology includes a minimal stimulation room, whole body cooling therapy and the only Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist system in the Panhandle. BSA is holding an event to introduce the NICU transport team and celebrate the BSA NICU 20th anniversary on Thursday, October 11 from 5-‐7 p.m. in the BSA Auditorium on the second floor of the main hospital.
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About BSA Health System
BSA Health System (BSA) is a comprehensive healthcare system located in Amarillo, Texas, serving the Texas Panhandle and
surrounding areas. BSA, the largest healthcare employer in the region, includes a 445-bed hospital, BSA Harrington Cancer Center, a
network of primary care, urgent care and surgical clinics and a preferred provider network, as well as majority interests in Physicians
Surgical Hospitals, ADC Endoscopy and Advanced Imaging Centers. In 2018, IBM Watson Health recognized BSA as one of the 100
Top Hospitals® in the nation for the fifth time since 2012. BSA is recognized as one of 13 Everest Award winners in the nation, a
designation for those among the top for rate of improvement in the nation over five years. For more information, visit bsahs.org.
About Apollo MedFlight
Apollo MedFlight is a locally owned and operated critical care air ambulance provider, with bases in Amarillo, Childress, Borger,
Guymon and Lufkin. Apollo MedFlight specializes in both rotor and fixed wing medical transports and is the only company in the
Texas Panhandle that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) in rotorwing, fixed
wing, and ground ambulance. For more information about Apollo MedFlight visit apollomedflight.com.