Leigh Tenewitz, March of Dimes, (404) 350-9800, ltenewitz@marchofdimes.com

March of Dimes unveils new Angel II, Neonatal Transport Unit, at Grady Health System

Grady Health System will unveil the latest addition to its neonatal transport fleet Tuesday in a ceremony marking the arrival of a new Angel II ambulance. March of Dimes Georgia, in partnership with The Atlanta Foundation, and the John H. & Wilhelmina D. Harland Charitable Foundation, provided funding for the new unit which will transport sick and premature infants to hospitals across the state.

Studies show that Georgia ranks among the states with the highest number of pre-term, low birth weight babies born each year. These infants often require treatment at a neonatal intensive care hospital. The Angel II ambulance is a mobile intensive care unit that transports babies to healthcare facilities that will give them the specialized care they need.

“Angel II transports approximately .3% of all babies born in the state. We are excited that there will now be two state-of-the-art ambulances available to assist Georgia’s tiniest patients,” says Sheila Ryan, Georgia State Director for March of Dimes.

Infants transported in the neonatal ambulance are placed in an isolette equipped to continuously monitor every aspect of the baby’s condition while in transit. In 2010, Angel II transported 570 babies across the state, covering more than 40 counties and serving 35 hospitals. Angel II units are based at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital.

"We are extremely grateful to the March of Dimes, The Atlanta and Harland Foundations for their support. It is because of their generosity and community spirit that Grady will be better able to provide the vital Angel II service for our state,” says Grady Health Foundation President Lisa Borders.