Harris EMS Expands Neonatal Transport Services, Enhancing Access to Specialized Newborn Care in Western North Carolina

Harris Regional Hospital is pleased to announce that Harris EMS has obtained the specialized certification required to transport neonatal patients, including premature and medically fragile newborns, ensuring that critically important care is available closer to home.

The neonatal transport service is a natural extension of the hospital’s New Generations Family Birthing Center, which leads the region in labor and delivery care—delivering the highest number of babies west of Asheville each year. The center’s level II special care nursery provides care for infants born at 32 weeks or later and for those who may have progressed from neonatal intensive care at other facilities. With this new capability, families now have the option to access specialized care for their newborns closer to home, reducing the need for long-distance travel.

"By achieving certification for neonatal transport, Harris EMS can now safely transfer babies who require higher level nursery care," said Dr. Bernd Holler, board-certified neonatologist at Harris Regional Hospital. “This service, which also allows for neonatal nurses to accompany patients when necessary, ensures that our smallest and most vulnerable patients receive uninterrupted, high-quality care right from the moment of transfer.”

Key features of this enhanced service include:

• Certified Harris EMS vehicles are equipped with an isolette and monitoring technology, enabling safe transport of premature infants and those needing a higher level of care. 

• When required, trained nurses will accompany patients, ensuring continuous expert care throughout the journey.
• Families in western North Carolina will now benefit from the ability to transfer care closer to home, reducing the stress and logistical challenges associated with long-distance travel for specialized neonatal care.

“Harris Regional Hospital is committed to providing innovative, patient-centered care,” said Harris Regional Hospital CEO Ashley Hindman. “Our new neonatal transport service is another step forward in ensuring that every baby, no matter where they are in our region, has immediate access to the specialized care they need.”

New Generations Family Birthing Center remains at the forefront of regional perinatal services, offering not only delivery care but also family education and support. The birthing center’s trusted equipment and dedicated team of medical professionals ensure that each newborn receives tailored, life-saving care—from premature infants with respiratory or developmental issues to those requiring intensive stabilization prior to further treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit.

"This enhanced service strengthens the level of care available to families throughout western North Carolina," said Chris Brown, RN, market president for Harris Regional Hospital, Haywood Regional Medical Center, and Swain Community Hospital. "By expanding neonatal transport capabilities, we’re helping to ensure that newborns across our region have access to the specialized medical attention they need, while allowing parents to remain within their communities for care and support."

For more information about Harris Regional Hospital’s neonatal transport services or the New Generations Family Birthing Center, please visit MyHarrisRegional.com.