Children’s Minnesota provides transfer and transport for critically ill neonates from any location in the Upper Midwest to our NICU campuses in Coon Rapids (Level III), St. Paul (Level III) & Minneapolis (Level IV). Our neonatal transport team, which operates via ambulance, helicopter or fixed-wing plane is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Transport teams receive NICU Level IV training to provide the safe transfer and transportation of patients. Their expertise and state-of-the-art equipment allow them to implement treatments such as nitric oxide therapy, active therapeutic body cooling and oscillating ventilation immediately upon their arrival at the referral hospital and during transport.

• With 500+ annual transports in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, our dedicated neonatal transport team has expertise in the specialized, interfacility transport of critically ill newborns. 

• With over 35 years of experience in neonatal transport, our team operates as an extension of the NICU by providing a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) and a highly trained respiratory therapist (RT). 

• We have a history of excellence in the stabilization and management of critically ill neonates in the field, acknowledged through the U.S. News & World Report’s measures of Neonatology clinical care. 

Arranging transport

Children’s Minnesota Physician Access representatives will help connect you to a Children’s physician and resources to make transportation arrangements. Call Children’s Minnesota Physician Access:

Toll free: 866-755-2121

Twin Cities metro area: 612-343-2121

Patients requiring ECMO services

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) services are provided for patients with severe respiratory and/or cardiac insufficiency that is unresponsive to mechanical ventilation and medical therapy. Staff are available 24 hours a day for professional consultation, patient transport or provision of ECMO. (Note: ECMO is only available at Children’s Minneapolis hospital.) Learn more about the award-winning ECMO program at Children’s Minnesota.