Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children added a new ambulance to its Kids Care transport program, expanding how critically ill infants and children are moved to advanced medical care across North Alabama.
Hospital leaders unveiled the new Kids Care Critical Care Transport ambulance Monday outside the hospital’s main entrance. The unit replaces an older, high-mileage ambulance that had been used for years to transport patients from smaller hospitals to Huntsville.
The Kids Care program serves hospitals across North Alabama and parts of south-central Tennessee. The team transports more than 700 infants and children each year, including premature babies and pediatric patients. Many of these patients need specialized treatment not available at their local hospital.
Unlike a traditional ambulance, the Kids Care unit functions as a mobile intensive care space. It carries equipment designed for neonatal and pediatric emergencies and is staffed by specially trained nurses. Hospital officials said the ambulance allows care to begin before a patient reaches the hospital.
Elizabeth Sanders, vice president of Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, said the program connects smaller hospitals to higher levels of care.
“This is about making sure every child in our region can reach the level of care they need, when they need it,” Sanders said.
The transport team is available around the clock and responds to requests from hospitals throughout the region. Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children serves as a referral center for pediatric and neonatal care, meaning many hospitals rely on Kids Care to safely move patients.
The Kids Care team includes specialists with decades of combined experience in pediatric and neonatal transport. Crews often travel long distances, logging about 100,000 miles each year as demand continues to grow.
The new ambulance was funded through a grant from The Caring Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, along with support from donors through the Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s 2024 Huntsville Classic.
Hospital leaders said the new vehicle includes improved safety systems, updated medical equipment and a redesigned interior built to support critical care transport.
Officials said the investment helps ensure children across North Alabama continue to have access to emergency care, regardless of where they live.
