Neonatal and pediatric transport team delivers hope to Indiana’s youngest patients

“At the end of the day, we’re not just moving patients. We are delivering a legacy of excellence, fueled by a commitment to the children of Indiana.”

Many of Indiana’s most critically ill infants and children depend on LifeLine’s highly skilled neonatal and pediatric transport team. At the heart of this work are professionals like Brian Warner, a registered respiratory therapist (RT) and neonatal pediatric specialist, and Becca Walsh, a LifeLine critical care registered nurse. Their collaboration, skill and compassion make all the difference for Hoosier children.

Whether by air or ground, Warner and Walsh partner closely to safely transport patients to specialized facilities, such as Riley. “We see a lot of respiratory conditions, trauma, sepsis, infection and premature deliveries,” says Walsh. “A lot of the facilities we pick up from don’t specialize in pediatrics. We’re walking into situations where the facility has done the best they can and we can take it from there."

The pair relies on one another’s expertise to ensure the infant or child is safe and stable during the journey. And that journey is often cramped, in either the back of a moving vehicle or thousands of feet in the air on a helicopter. “You’re focusing on a critical ill patient, and you’re also moving. You and your partners need to have high stakes precision, in a tight environment, with limited resources,” says Warner.

The work is challenging and demanding yet rewarding. “When we’re able to stabilize a patient, you can quickly see those kiddos quickly turnaround. Seeing them get better is the biggest motivator,” says Walsh. Together, LifeLine team members like Warner and Walsh use the skills they’ve learned in their many years of experience to deliver care in an environment where every second counts. “We transform a high-stress environment into a place of hope and healing,” says Warner. “At the end of the day, we’re not just moving patients. We are delivering a legacy of excellence, fueled by a commitment to the children of Indiana.”