Every Storm has a Silver Lining

While recovery efforts continue in the wake of Hurricane Irma, the UF Health Jacksonville NICU Transport Team is celebrating their success following the storm. Below is the brand new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Transporter that was purchased using donations made to Walmart & Sam’s Club during their annual CMN Hospitals campaign. Even though the transporter had arrived in June, the transport team trained on the new machine for months to ensure it was safe and operational before being placed in the field. This picture was taken on its maiden voyage to pick up a baby at a Jacksonville Beach hospital immediately following the storm. Their NICU was at capacity and with the added stress from the hurricane, needed to divert babies to area hospitals.

UF Health Jacksonville has a Level 3 NICU, the highest level designation, so the sickest babies are transported here to receive excellent care by nurses and doctors. In preparation for Hurricane Irma, their transport team picked up five babies from hospitals around the region due to NICU closures and high census in critical geographical areas that could receive damage from high winds or water. Immediately following the storm, three babies were brought to the unit until all area hospitals were able to take patients.