Protocolo de checklist para o transporte aeromédico neonatal

Abstract

Neonatal air medical transport is a complex and high-risk procedure that requires specialized skills and care to ensure the safety and well-being of neonatal patients during transportation between health facilities. In Brazil, there is a lack of specific guidelines for this type of transport, which justifies the research that proposes the standardization of processes. This study aims to develop a checklist protocol for neonatal air medical transport to standardize the transport stages. The research was divided into three phases: (1) development of the checklist protocol, (2) validation of the protocol by professionals in the sector, and (3) review and re-elaboration of the protocol based on data analysis. The development of the protocol involved the analysis of recommendations and best practices related to the transport of newborns, focusing on pre- and post-flight safety from the triage stage to the bedside, the availability of equipment, and the prevention of complications during the flight. The protocol was validated with the participation of health professionals working in air medical transport. This research potentially contributed to the systematization of neonatal air medical transport by proposing a structured checklist focusing on standardizing care and patient safety in critical contexts. The scarcity of national studies on the subject reinforces the relevance of this work. The developed instrument has practical applicability and potential for integration into institutional protocols, intending to strengthen teams’ performance, optimize resources and stimulate future research aimed at qualifying neonatal care in air transport.