Karolinska Intensive Care Transportation Center

The Intensive Care Transportation Center (ITC) is part of Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. It is a hospital programme. Its doctors and nurses move critically ill patients who need intensive care for the whole trip, by helicopter, ambulance airplane or ground ambulance.

Services

The ITC moves patients to and from Karolinska, and between other hospitals around the world when needed. It also gives medical advice before a transport is decided. Its teams take over care at the sending hospital, and Karolinska is the care provider during the trip.

There are separate teams for newborns, children from 0 to 18 years, and adults. There is also an ECMO transport team that can move patients while ECMO treatment continues.

Aircraft and bases

The site names an intensive care helicopter, called HICAMS, and specially equipped ambulance airplanes. It says the helicopter can fly in poor weather and has a range of 800 km from Karolinska in Solna. The airplanes have a range of 3,150 km. The site says a second helicopter and a second airplane are always on standby in case the main aircraft cannot fly.

Who it is for

Referring hospitals and medical professionals request transport. The teams are ready 24 hours a day. The ITC says it adapts the trip to distance, weather and the needs of the patient.

Facts

• Run by Karolinska University Hospital.
• Teams: neonatal (ANTS), paediatric (PETS), adult (AITT) and ECMO.
• Helicopter speed given as 320 km/h, airplane speed as 740 km/h.
• Ground transport is done with an intensive care ambulance.