Transport

The Level III NICU at Saint Francis Medical Center provides transport services for premature infants and newborns throughout the region.

Under most circumstances, babies are transported to Saint Francis by ARCH, a regional system of emergency medical helicopters and fixed-wing aircrafts serving much of Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky. With bases in Cape Girardeau and Sparta, ARCH is capable of transporting two infants simultaneously. (If inclement weather prohibits flying, transport services are provided by Cape County Ambulance.)

On each transport to Saint Francis, a highly skilled Level III NICU transport nurse and neonatal respiratory therapist accompany the neonatologist or neonatal nurse practitioner on the flight to bring a mini-intensive care nursery to the transferring hospital. The Airborne Voyager is the Medical Center's neonatal transport system, a mini-intensive care nursery on wheels. This portable incubator unit provides a safe, secure, warm area for your baby during the ride. Special features include:

A portable ventilator is available if your baby needs help breathing during the trip. Built-in oxygen and air tanks provide the needed support.
A cardiorespiratory monitor allows for continual monitoring of your baby's heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.
Infusion pumps are capable of providing portable intravenous fluids for one or several IVs depending on your baby's needs.