Unit Descriptions
Lifeline Transport Team
Our neonatal and pediatric critical care transport teams are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, staffed with specially trained nursing personnel, respiratory therapists, and AEMT/Paramedics. Our critical care transport teams travel to hospitals across East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky to stabilize and transport critically ill newborns and pediatric patients to the Emergency Department and Critical Care Units at ETCH. We transport over 500 patients each year using one of our three specialty ambulances, equipped and staffed to function as mobile intensive care units. Neonatal critical care transport teams also transport over 500 patients each year from the high risk birthing unit at Fort Sanders, using the tunnel that connects our hospitals.
2East/Oncology
The 2 East department specializes in the care of pediatric patients with hematology and oncology diagnoses. In addition, we also treat pediatric patients with a wide variety of medical conditions. Our unit is staffed with registered and nurses that can become and or are certified to administer chemotherapy. In addition, the floor also has support staff such as Unit Techs (UTs), Health Unit Coordinator (HUCs), Child Life Specialists, and hospitalists that are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
3rd Medical
The 3rd medical department serves pediatric patients with a wide variety of medical illnesses and disease processes from the acutely ill to the medically complex. Our floor specifically specializes in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis patients. From birth to 21 years of age, we provide patients with comprehensive, family centered care tailored to their individual needs. The floor is staffed with Registered Nurses, Unit Techs (UTs), Health Unit Coordinator (HUCs), Child Life Specialists, and hospitalists that are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
2 West/IPS
The Inpatient Surgery (IPS) department provides perioperative care to the patients at ETCH. The team cares preoperatively and postoperatively to prepare the family and child for emergent, routine, or scheduled surgeries. IPS cares postoperatively for the whole family during the recovery period. The IPS staff member will deal with a variety of surgical procedures ranging from acute care to observation. When needs arise, medical overflow patients will be targeted to our floor. The floor is staffed with Registered Nurses, Unit Techs (UTs), Health Unit Coordinator (HUCs), Child Life Specialists, and hospitalists that are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
NICU
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Neonatal Transport Service provides care and treatment for high-risk neonates. Evaluation and treatment begin at the referring facility and is continued during the neonate’s hospital stay. Care in the NICU is provided until the patient is discharged home or transferred to another facility. The NICU is staffed with Registered Nurses and complemented by IBCLC Certified Lactation Consultants, Unit Techs (UT’s), Transport Technicians, and Health Unit Coordinators (HUCs).
PICU
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a fast paced 14 bed unit. The PICU consists of The Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team, which is comprised of a primary nurse clinician and a secondary critical care nurse available either in the hospital or on call. The PICU/PCCTS provides comprehensive medical and nursing care to sick, post operative, and injured children who require a high level of monitoring, treatment, and care. Care is provided on pediatric transport and in the PICU until the patient is transferred to an inpatient unit, transferred to another facility, or discharged home. Nurses performing in the role of Primary Transport Nurse demonstrate competency in specialized pediatric transport skills. The PICU is staffed with Registered Nurses, Patient Care Assistants, Health Unit Coordinators, Child Life Specialists, and a Critical Care Provider 24 hours a day.
Emergency Department
The Emergency Department is a fast paced 38 bed unit that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is fully staffed with pediatric emergency medicine specialists and nursing personnel. Our team of emergency physicians and nurses provide specialized care to patients from birth up to 21 years of age with varying levels of illness from minor to critical. The Emergency Department is staffed with Registered Nurses, LPN’s, Paramedics, ER technicians, and Health Unit Coordinators (HUCs). We see approximately 70,000 patients a year, averaging 200 patients each day.
Surgery
Peri-op Services include the Pre/Post Department, Operating Room, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and Sterile Processing Department (SPD). Our surgical patients are prepared for surgery in the pre/post area where they are cared for by Registered Nurses, Unit Techs, Health Unit Coordinators (HUC), Child Life Specialists and members of our Anesthesia team. During Surgery, our patients are taken care of by RN circulators and Certified Surgical Techs (CST), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) and an Anesthesiologist. The patient is then taken to the PACU to be safely recovered by a highly trained and qualified RN and then transported back to their family in pre/post to either go home or be sent to their in-patient room, which is usually on 2-West (IPS).
Transfer Center
The Transfer center provides support for bed placement, providers referring patients to the hospital, organizational follow up, and after hours calls that support pediatrician offices in our community. We strive to be one call does it all to ensure throughput is optimized and patients needing care is expedited. The unit is staffed with registered nurses that spend their work time on the phone. The unit is open 24 hours a day seven days a week including holidays.
