DETROIT — Children’s Hospital of Michigan transport has expanded services to now include a fully-dedicated helicopter to serve critically ill patients. The PANDA One helicopter will allow our neonatal and pediatric transport team to initiate critical care services more quickly when kids need us the most. The aircraft is an addition to the existing ground-based PANDA One ambulance service offered by Children’s.

The PANDA One helicopter will be based out of Flint’s Bishop Airport, making it possible for Children’s Hospital of Michigan to dramatically improve response times for patients from Genesee and Saginaw counties, and the Thumb region.

“Minutes count when it comes to transporting critically ill children,” said Kathy Donovan CEO of Children’s Hospital of Michigan. “The addition of this asset allows us to better serve our patients, their families and the communities we serve. The commitment of our PANDA One team members to the mission and the community is second to none. I could not be prouder in this moment.”

PANDA One is Michigan’s only fully dedicated pediatric and neonatal air and ground ambulance service. Each year, the PANDA One team, which serves as a mobile extension of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, transports more than 1,200 patients from hospitals throughout the state, surrounding states and Ontario.

Like the PANDA One ambulance, the new helicopter is fully equipped with the most advanced pediatric and neonatal life support technologies, including an isolette incubator, which maintains a warm environment and helps protect babies who are extremely vulnerable and at increased risk of complications. The helicopter is staffed by a team of specially trained registered nurses and respiratory therapists to respond to any type of medical or traumatic emergency.

“Our mission is to continually work to improve the health and well-being of the children across Michigan,” said Donovan. “Enhancing the services we offer through the PANDA One transport team allows us to better serve our patients and families.”