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Nationwide survey of neonatal transportation practices in Japan
Author(s) -
Hiroma Takehiko,
Ichiba Hiroyuki,
Wada Kazuko,
Shiraishi Jun,
Sugiura Hiroshi,
Nakamura Tomohiko
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.12908
Subject(s) - medicine , medical emergency , neonatal mortality , neonatal resuscitation , intensive care , medical care , emergency medicine , medical insurance , resuscitation , pediatrics , environmental health , infant mortality , intensive care medicine , population , actuarial science , business
Abstract Rapid resuscitation and appropriate transportation of sick infants can greatly improve infant survival and neurological prognosis. To gain an understanding of the status of neonatal transport in Japan , we conducted a survey of neonatal transportation capabilities at perinatal medical centers across the country. Survey content included the number of neonatal transportation cases and the method of transportation. Twenty percent of infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units were transported to the medical centers from other institutions. Half of the level III perinatal medical centers owned an ambulance specialized for neonatal transport. A total of 36% of sick newborns, however, were transported by fire department ambulances that are ill‐equipped to care for infants. Thirteen percent of centers reported problems with the emergency transportation of newborns in fire department ambulances. Centers lacked specialized ambulances primarily because of financial constraints. Adequate medical insurance coverage is needed to increase the number of specialized ambulances at perinatal medical centers.