Critical Care and Specialty Transport
Critical air and ground transport for adult and pediatric patients
Serving south and central Texas, Methodist Healthcare Critical Care and Specialty Transport provides air and ground transport for both adult and pediatric patients who require specialty or critical care.
Our highly experienced and trained teams of adult, pediatric, obstetrical, and neonatal providers offer 2-on-1 critical care services to patients throughout transport. We currently support the intra-facility transports for Methodist Healthcare System hospital and FSEDs.
Methodist Healthcare Critical Care and Specialty Transport is dedicated to improving the care and support we provide to our patients and communities. We are uniquely equipped to provide monitoring and interventions during actual patient transport by ambulance, helicopter or fixed‑wing aircraft.
Adult team
Launching by air or ground, the adult transport team consists of licensed intensive care or emergency care nurses and paramedics specially trained to address critical injuries or conditions for patients ages 18 years and older.
Upon scene launch request, our experienced mobile medical team jumps into action. We act quickly to get to patients in need, providing immediate evaluation and detailed attention upon arrival. Our capabilities include:
- Medical and trauma emergencies, Impella transport, Intra-aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) transport, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) transport
- Invasive procedures: Intubation, NG or OG tube placement, invasive or noninvasive ventilation, arterial line placement, chest tube placement and IO placement
The Methodist Healthcare System has full access to one of San Antonio's leading healthcare networks, including Level I and Level II Trauma Care centers, to support effective intervention and recovery.
Neonatal intensive care specialty team
Our neonatal intensive care specialty transportation team is specially trained to care for San Antonio's tiniest patients. Our transport crew, staffed by a licensed NICU nurse and respiratory therapist, launches by air or ground to deliver immediate care and attention.
We provide ground and air transport for of all neonatal patients including extreme premature low birth weights, surgical and cardiac patients. Our capabilities include:
- CPAP or conventional ventilation, high-frequency ventilation inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), and active total body cooling with Tecotherm
- Invasive procedures: Intubation, umbilical venous catheters, peripheral and umbilical arterial line placement, and needle thoracentesis
The Methodist Healthcare System hosts San Antonio's largest neonatal intensive unit (NICU) and first level IV NICU, connecting families with leading edge technologies and care that saves lives.
High-risk obstetrics specialty team
Our dedicated high-risk obstetrics specialty team provides air or ground transportation for evaluation of high-risk OB patients, including patients with comorbidities in early to late gestation, Pre-labor Rupture of Membranes (PROM), preterm labor, and fetal heart rate transport monitor.
Our team consists of high-risk obstetrics-focused nurses, NICU nurses, a respiratory therapist, and an experienced paramedic team, including those who are intubated and transport ventilator qualified, to help our patients get the care they need when it matters most.
We support inter-facility travel for three high-risk pregnancy care and delivery locations, including one of few Level IV maternal centers in Texas, offering the highest level and most comprehensive care available for high-risk obstetric patients.
Pediatric specialty team
Our pediatric specialty transport team launches by air or ground and supports patients ages 0-18. We host a licensed pediatric intensive care nurse, respiratory therapist and full-scope paramedic team to help care for your child.
We offer immediate ground and air transport for medical and surgical emergencies, fully prepared for any medical need, including:
- Transport intubation
- Invasive or noninvasive ventilation
- Arterial line monitoring
- IO placement
- Medical IV drips
To help families stay connected, our ground transports are able to have a parent as a third rider, at the driver’s discretion.
We are proud to partner with Methodist Children's Hospital, the largest pediatric intensive care unit in San Antonio, to offer advanced medical care that fits your child. The 78-bed facility is well equipped to support pediatric patients from arrival to diagnosis and treatment.