Franciscan Health Offers Critical Care Transport Service for Patients from Decatur, Johnson and Putnam Counties
Franciscan Health Indianapolis is now offering critical care ambulance transport service to bring patients from outlying communities to Franciscan for treatment.
Franciscan Health Critical Care Transport-Indianapolis will transport patients from Decatur, Johnson and Putnam counties, as well as from the cities of Columbus and Shelbyville.
Currently, a lack of transportation prevents patients in these communities from coming to Franciscan Health Indianapolis. Patients are often transported to more distant facilities which happen to offer transportation. The new service is a great benefit to patients from the aforementioned areas.
“Franciscan Health recognized a critical need in our partnering communities and decided to provide a solution to that dilemma,” said Melissa Hill, manager Critical Care Transport, Franciscan Health Indianapolis. “Immediate lifesaving interventions are available at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, but too many times transport had to be provided by paramedic ambulances from the 911 systems. This need took a vital resource out of the surrounding counties. Now our partnering hospitals have an additional resource, a critical care level paramedic ambulance available to rapidly transport these patients for treatment of heart attack and stroke.”
Currently, the specialty ambulance focuses on patients requiring thrombectomy and those suffering from STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction), a type of severe heart attack caused by extensive blockage of a coronary artery. In preparation, ambulance staff received enhanced training in stroke and heart attack care.
By having a transport service directly to Franciscan Health Indianapolis, these patients will now receive care closer to home and begin treatment sooner. The Franciscan ambulance will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and calls will be coordinated through the Franciscan Transfer Center.
“It has truly been an honor and humbling experience to be given this opportunity to serve our communities through Franciscan Health,” said Hill. “Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are a vital and irreplaceable part of the healthcare system. My passion is to support and educate these dedicated individuals through the growth of the Critical Care Program at Franciscan Health.”
The ambulance will operate with auto-launch protocols which trigger an automatic dispatch to the affected patient’s site while staff may still be on the phone coordinating details.
A dedicated crew was recently trained and hired to staff the ambulance, which features state-of-the-art equipment to address complications with the patient groups.