HCA Florida Palms West Hospital recently announced the launch of a new, fully integrated patient transport service for its most emergent patients being transferred to and from its facility. The comprehensive service offers advanced life support and critical care transport ground ambulance services across Palm Beach County.
This dedicated transport program is built to align state-of-the-art technology with highly trained clinicians to facilitate the safe and seamless movement of critical patients. The service utilizes specialized teams, including EMTs, paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists and physicians, to manage the complex transport needs of adult, pediatric, neonatal and high-risk obstetric patients.
Palms West Hospital has developing plans to revolutionize critical care transport with the debut of a mobile telemedicine program — a first for the State of Florida. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to deliver immediate, hospital-level specialty care while patients are in transit.
The mobile critical care ambulance will function as a remote extension of the hospital’s specialized units. The setup includes a high-resolution fish-eye camera and a suite of advanced telemedicine equipment. Caregivers can deploy specialized devices — such as a digital stethoscope, doppler and wound camera — simultaneously streaming all patient data directly to specialists. Physicians can monitor, assess and guide care from a dedicated console, providing the real-time clinical visibility needed to accelerate diagnosis and treatment before the patient even arrives.
The fleet of ambulances is equipped with the most innovative technology in the industry to support this level of advanced care. Key features include: cardiac monitors capable of invasive monitoring and treatment; real-time data transmission and automated vehicle locators; video laryngoscopy for secure airway management; and automated chest compression devices and power stretchers.
“Our transport program is different by design. It’s focused on integrating advanced healthcare logistics directly into the HCA Florida Healthcare system to further fulfill our mission to care for and improve human life,” said Dr. Jason Kimbrell, CEO of HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. “For patients who need us, especially when every second counts, this service dramatically enhances the quality of critical care they receive.”
Beyond serving as a vital link for critical inter-hospital transfers, the new transport service significantly broadens the hospital’s reach. It will facilitate the safe movement of patients discharging to skilled nursing, rehabilitation and behavioral health facilities. Additionally, the service will support transport needs for the hospital’s new free-standing emergency room set to open in West Palm Beach next year.
As a proven regional transfer hub, Palms West Hospital leads the HCA system in Florida, receiving more than 2,500 inbound patients annually, with 1,700 patients being transferred from safety net and critical access hospitals across the region.
“We are grateful to the Palm Beach County Commission for approving our request to offer this essential service,” Kimbrell added. “This is a tremendous value-add for the residents and visitors of Palm Beach County.”
The transport services will be fully operational at Palms West Hospital shortly. HCA Florida Healthcare operates a similar, successful transport service model in 17 sites across the state.
