UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Annual Report 2015-16 UAB Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgery 2015/16 Annual | Page 66

CRITICAL CARE TRANSPORT
Critical Care Transport (CCT) is an interfacility transport service providing complete, uninterrupted ICU care
to patients from bedside to bedside between any two health care facilities worldwide. CCT is appropriate for
patients who are critically ill or at high risk to deteriorate during the course of transfer and therefore are not
suited for routine ambulance transfer. CCT air transport also may be appropriate when the transfer distance is
beyond 150 miles and the patient is significantly ill and/or cannot tolerate long-distance ground transport.
CCT has one jet and three critical care ground ambulances. Both air and ground vehicles are fully equipped
ICUs, and the jet can accommodate two patients. Critical care RNs and respiratory therapists staff the
transport of adult patients, with physicians available 24/7, and the neonatal team is staffed with neonatal nurse
practitioners and respiratory therapists. Some of the special capabilities include bedside laboratory testing,
nitric therapy, therapeutic hypothermia, intra-aortic balloon pumps, ventricular assist devices, and ECMO.
Critical Care Transport may be reached by calling the UAB Medical Information Service via Telephone
(MIST) operator 24/7 at 1-800-UAB-MIST (1-800-822-6478).

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Cardiothoracic Surgery Annual Report