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AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Children\u2019s announced the launch of its first pediatric helicopter. It’s a major milestone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Texas Children’s is now the first pediatric hospital system to operate its own helicopter in Austin, designed to bring specialized care in a timely fashion.<\/p>\n
What they’re saying:<\/p>\n
“Time is of the essence when you’re facing a sick child,” said Hannah Scfcik, a registered nurse at Texas Children’s.<\/p>\n
The Kangaroo Crew is Texas Children\u2019s specialized transport team for pediatric, neonatal, and high-risk maternal patients.<\/p>\n
Previously, the team would race through the streets of Austin in an ambulance to get children the help they need. Now, they\u2019ll take to the skies.<\/p>\n
“The helicopter is basically a flying intensive care unit. It has a respiratory therapist and a nurse on board. We can bring in medical specialists depending upon what the child needs. It can also accommodate a parent who may want to travel with the patient here into the hospital,” said Dr. Jeff Shilt, president of Austin and central Texas, Texas Children\u2019s.<\/p>\n
The Texas Children’s Hospital system will be the first to operate its own helicopter in Austin traveling distances of up to 120 miles.<\/p>\n
The team’s fleet now includes two helicopters, ground ambulances, and a fixed wing aircraft.<\/p>\n
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“When you have a baby that’s just been born or a sick teenager or anything like that, the helicopter allows us to decrease the out of facility time, so we’re not bumping down the road with a sick child. We can just quickly pick up in the air and arrive at Texas Children’s Hospital,” said Scfcik.<\/p>\n
6-year-old Maxine Garza Purisima was diagnosed with a rare lung disease that only about 500 other people have. With the helicopter, Maxine can be moved to specialized care quickly if she needs.<\/p>\n
“Maxine represents the very reason this helicopter exists. To make sure children with complex, life-threatening conditions in central Texas and surrounding areas can reach the right experts quickly without added distance standing in the way,” said Shilt.<\/p>\n
For Maxine’s mom, Connie, the new service provides some much-needed relief for her daughter. \u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s been very eye-opening and amazing to be able to share our story and to be able to speak to people in the community about it. So I think it offers a really good potential for everybody that needs help around here,” said Garza Purisima.<\/p>\n
In the summer, the helicopter is looking to expand its reach even further from 120 miles to 200.<\/p>\n
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Jenna King<\/p>\n