“Just for Kids” Critical Care Transport Team: Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Services

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Always Standing Ready

The Norton Children’s Hospital “Just for Kids” Transport Team conducts patient transports for severely ill or injured babies and children, 24/7, by ground, helicopter or plane.

When your child is in need of emergency care, we are standing ready. Available 24/7, on the ground or in the air, the Norton Children’s Hospital “Just for Kids” Transport Team provides specialized care for patients traveling between hospitals. The “Just for Kids” Critical Care Transport also provides access throughout the region to the only freestanding pediatric hospital in the commonwealth of Kentucky.


The “Just for Kids” Transport Team started in 1978 as an ambulance service for young children. Now, more than 45 years later, we transport more than 2,500 children annually.

Our 35-member team cares for children of all ages, from newborns to young adults up to age 21, and can transport patients anywhere in the continental U.S.

During every trip, each child has a three-member crew attending to them at all times, customizing their care based on their specific health needs. A registered nurse, respiratory therapist and emergency medical technician will collaborate together with your child’s care team of physicians and specialists to ensure they arrive safely to their designated Norton Children’s medical facility.

Safety for our patients and staff is a top priority, and all team members and vehicles affiliated with the “Just For Kids” Transport Team remain up to date on the latest training measures, including all state and federal licensing and inspection requirements.

Patient Transport Process

Communication With Caregivers
During a transport, communication with the child’s caregiver is a priority, and we make every attempt to ensure a caregiver can accompany the child during the trip. If for some reason a caregiver is unable to accompany their child, our team makes a call to the child’s caregiver as soon as they arrive at their Norton Children’s facility with an update on the child’s status and all necessary location details related to the child’s hospital visit.

When arriving at the hospital, visitors should enter the main lobby or emergency department and explain that their child was brought there by the “Just for Kids” Transport Team. More information will be provided.

Arranging Patient Transport Between Hospitals
When it is determined that a child requires patient transport to another medical facility, a provider at the hospital requesting transport will make a referral to the Norton Children’s Hospital “Just for Kids” Transport Team. Call 1 (888) 729-9111 to make a referral. Referring providers will be connected immediately to a neonatologist, pediatrician, critical care specialist or emergency medicine physician who will provide real-time medical control for the transport team.

Once the transport team is dispatched, the most appropriate mode of transportation (ambulance, helicopter or airplane) will be determined based on the child’s location and condition. Providers with each hospital remain in contact with the transport team and calculate an estimated time of arrival to the destination.

Impact of Critical Care Transport

Specialized pediatric transportation can make a tremendous difference in health outcomes of our patients, including improved survival and recovery rates. Our methods of pediatric patient transport allow severely ill or injured children to quickly receive the lifesaving, specialized interventions they need in critical situations when every minute counts.

More than 60% of babies in the Norton Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) arrive via the “Just for Kids” Transport Team. Our specialized equipment allows for the safe transport of critically ill preemies, and since more premature babies are surviving at smaller birth weights, other hospitals in the region may choose the care of Norton Children’s neonatal specialists.

Many older children also rely on the transport team to bring them to a Norton Children’s facility for care from pediatric intensivists, surgeons, hospitalists and subspecialists, including the  pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU).

Specialized Team for Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care

A Dedicated Crew, Just for Your Child
The “Just for Kids” Transport Team consists of registered nurses, respiratory therapists and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are dedicated to working with ill and injured newborn and pediatric patients. They are equipped to provide specialized care while traveling between hospitals and receive extensive training on critical care transport. Our team receives regular training and continuing education on advanced life support, trauma care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pharmacology and flight physiology.

During a patient’s transport, the registered nurse and respiratory therapist will monitor vital signs, administer medications and can perform medical interventions such as CPR, intubation or other medical procedures requested by the child’s care team based at the hospital. They will monitor the patient to ensure they remain stable, manage the patient’s oxygen levels, provide necessary respiratory treatments and tend to any medical needs during the trip.

The EMT handles safe transportation to and from each hospital location and is trained to assist with procedures and stabilizing patients during transport.

Our pilots have hundreds of hours of experience flying aircraft and are trained in visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR).

The patient transport team has specially configured mobile intensive care units and aircraft that are designed for critical health care needs. In the event that a child needs care from Norton Children’s Hospital, they transport patients 24 hours a day from our referral center partners in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Our Team of Licensed and Certified Providers

The “Just for Kids” Transport Team is licensed by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services annually. All team members are required to complete state and federal driver’s training, in addition to any licensure requirements based on their discipline.

Additionally, the “Just for Kids” Transport Team is associated with the following professional committees and affiliations:

Who We Transport
Members of the transport team are able to care for ill and injured newborn and pediatric patients with conditions such as:

  • Extreme prematurity
  • Congenital and acquired heart disease
  • Neonatal metabolic disorders
  • Airway abnormalities
  • Asthma or other illnesses requiring respiratory or ventilator support
  • All forms of shock
  • Seizures
  • Accidental and abusive injuries
  • Diabetes
  • Poisonings and ingestions

Where We Transport
We arrange transport for pediatric patients located anywhere in the contiguous U.S. and transport them to a designated Norton Children’s medical facility. Your child’s provider and transport team will advise you on the specific location of the hospital where your child will be transported and receive treatment.

Norton Children’s Hospital
231 E. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 629-6000

Norton Children’s Hospital is Louisville’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. Parking is available in the hospital parking garage at 210 Abraham Flexner Way.

Norton Children’s Medical Center
4910 Chamberlain Lane
Louisville, KY 40241
(502) 446-5000

The Norton Children’s Medical Center emergency department is open 24/7 on the Norton Brownsboro Hospital campus.

Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital
4001 Dutchmans Lane
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 893-1000

Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital has a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Mobile Intensive Care Units and Aircraft for Patient Transport

The “Just for Kids” Transport Team has a fleet of four ambulances and a helicopter, providing the appropriate method of pediatric patient transport based on your child’s needs and condition. We are available to provide transport to our referral center partners 24/7, with nationwide transport capability.

Our transport vehicles are specially equipped and outfitted to address the acute health care needs of our critically ill or injured pediatric patients, including newborns, children and teens.

The safety of our patients and staff is our first priority. Each vehicle maintains up-to-date licensure and inspections as required by state and federal agencies that oversee emergency medical services. Our pilots are licensed and certified with hundreds of hours of experience flying aircraft. They are trained in visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR).

Our transport vehicles were funded by generous donations from community members and supported by Speedway through the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation.  

A Message From the Team

Thank you for entrusting your child to our care. We understand how important quality medical care is for your child. Our goal is to transport your child safely and quickly to Norton Children’s Hospital for needed medical care. If you have any questions about our services or our staff, ask a member of your child’s transport team.

Sincerely,

“Just for Kids” Transport Team

2,904

2,904 pediatric and neonatal patients were transported in 2023

70 Counties

Patients come from over 70 counties in Kentucky and Southern Indiana

564

Over 500 pediatric patients were transported by air in 2023

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