By Allison G. S. Knox
Contributor, EDM Digest
There are many specialized resources that assist first responders when they deal with small- or large-scale emergencies. Specialized resources are essential in emergency medicine and are designed for what is often required for emergency medical procedures.
Many emergency departments, for example, have a section dedicated solely to pediatric care, a resource that is a boon to the efficient management of the department. Now, pediatric ambulances are expanding the resources for 911 emergencies and first responders, especially during a large-scale disaster.
For instance, Bronson Children’s Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is one of a growing number of healthcare facilities that has a pediatric ambulance. According to EMS1.com, the pediatric ambulance will prove to be a tremendous asset to the hospital.
Pediatric Ambulances Also An Asset to Emergency Managers
Ambulances are essentially mobile hospitals carrying specialized medical equipment and supplies. These new pediatric ambulances are an asset to any service that has one because they are outfitted with equipment and medical supplies specifically for young patients.
Pediatric ambulances like the one used by Sunrise Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, are a great help to emergency medical technicians and paramedics, particularly for transporting neonatal and pediatric patients.
Fitting Pediatric Ambulance Purchases into Health Care Budgets
While resources like pediatric ambulances are beneficial to the overall management of small and major incidents, budgets play a big part of the equation. Available funds determine whether or not an emergency service or hospital can buy and outfit a pediatric ambulance.
For example, UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento, California, has a pediatric ambulance, thanks to a grant from Kohl’s Department Stores. Similarly, the Bronson Children’s Hospital ambulance was made possible by fundraisers and donations.
Specialized resources are beneficial especially when a major emergency requires those resources to efficiently manage human injuries. But outfitting a pediatric ambulance for each hospital department would cost a great deal of money and the units might not be needed on a regular basis.
Ambulance agencies need to carefully weigh whether they can justify the expense of outfitting an ambulance specifically for pediatric patients.
In terms of resource management, extra specialized equipment is always helpful, but the equipment also needs to meet first responder needs.
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