DONATIONS AT WORK HIGHLIGHTS 2024/25
Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team
When eight-year-old Payton developed a sore throat, her parents chalked it up to a cold or flu virus and thought within a few days she would be back to her sweet, smiley self.
However, they knew something was seriously wrong when she refused even a popsicle to soothe her throat. Soon after, she developed a fever and started having difficulty breathing. Payton’s dad, Mike, brought her to the clinic near Lethbridge, Alberta where her mom, Andrea, works as a nurse.
“As soon as I saw her, I knew we had to go to the hospital,” Andrea says. After arriving at the nearest hospital, Payton was rushed to the operating room and — for a terrifying moment — she stopped breathing completely.
“I thought we were going to lose her,” Andrea says.
Doctors knew Payton needed specialized care from the experts at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, so they called in the donor-funded Pediatric Critical Care Transport (PCCT) team to get her there quickly and safely.
The highly-skilled PCCT team intubated Payton so she could breathe and loaded her and Andrea onto a fixed-wing airplane. Meanwhile, Mike quickly gathered the things they’d need from home and followed behind in the car to Calgary.
“I knew things were bad, but once the transport team picked her up, I felt she was going to be okay. I’ll never forget their faces — they saved my little girl.”
– Andrea
For kids like Payton, the PCCT team is a lifeline.
Thanks to generous community support, this team of nurses and respiratory therapists transport patients to and from hospitals throughout southern Alberta, southwestern Saskatchewan and southeastern British Columbia, ensuring consistent, continual and specialized critical care throughout the journey.
Last year, the team provided life-saving care to hundreds of kids and babies, completing 278 transfers by helicopter, airplane and ambulance.
Additionally, the transport team provides essential care when moving critically-ill patients within the Alberta Children’s Hospital to ensure their specialized care is not interrupted. Last year, the team completed 242 of these types of internal transfers.
After arriving at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, Payton was treated for epiglottitis — brought on by strep and influenza. This rare infection can cause swelling and prevent the flow of air into the lungs. To battle the infection, Payton spent time in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where she received around-the-clock IV antibiotics, which eventually got her back to eating — including popsicles — and well enough to return home.
Reflecting on the whirlwind journey, Andrea says she and Payton are so grateful for the care they received from the doctors, nurses and the PCCT team — plus the incredible community of people, like you, who helped make this level of care possible.
By the numbers
31
Fully trained and certified staff
14
Registered
Nurses
17
Registered Respiratory Therapists
Gold-standard in care
The nurses and respiratory therapists who work on the transport team have incredibly specialized skills, including the ability to intubate or start an IV on tiny patients in a moving ambulance, airplane or helicopter.
Last year, the team implemented an education system to further develop these skills and is now recognized by Accreditation Canada, meeting gold-standards at both national and global levels.
As part of this work, “Transport Rounds” were fully implemented at the Alberta Children’s Hospital last year. These sessions are an opportunity for PCCT members to present a case study to their colleagues, and as a team, they review learnings and identify any areas where patient care could be further improved.
At the same time, the team also lends its specialized knowledge to other Alberta Health Services staff and last year conducted 116 advice calls on critical care cases where the patient was not transported.
278 Transports Last Year
20
By Helicopter
171
By Ambulance
87
By Fixed Wing
More stories of impact
My eight-year-old son was transported to the Alberta Children’s Hospital because he had a seizure and he required a CT scan. The Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team was incredible in every possible way. I am so grateful we have this service available to us and can’t thank the team enough for getting him there in a safe and timely manner.”
They explained everything they were doing on the way to Alberta Children’s Hospital.”
Everyone was super friendly and attentive, patient and kind. They provided good layperson explanations for us, who don’t speak healthcare language.”
Did you know?
Thanks to generous community support, the PCCT team is equipped with the highly-specialized tools and technology required to meet stringent Transport Canada standards.
Sign up for our emails!