Ascension St. John announced on Apr. 8 that it has launched a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) flight transport program to provide specialized care for newborns in need across rural Oklahoma.
The new service aims to quickly transfer infants requiring advanced medical support from regional hospitals to the Mary K. Chapman NICU at St. John Medical Center by helicopter, ensuring timely access to critical care.
Bryan Cavitt, president of Ascension St. John Medical Center, said, “St. John is committed to providing critical care and adding NICU flight transport significantly expands our reach to newborns in need when it matters most.” Cavitt added that the initiative reflects the hospital’s mission “to innovate, serve rural Oklahomans and expand access to high-quality care across our state.”
The NICU transport team includes a specially trained nurse and respiratory therapist with over 600 hours of flight training who travel directly to referring hospitals. The team prepares each infant for air transfer using a special isolette before flying them by Air Methods helicopter back to the Level III NICU at St. John’s facility.
Evelyn Radichel, director of women’s health at Ascension St. John, said, “When a newborn is in need, distance shouldn’t decide their future.” She described the program as one that “provides life-saving care for newborns in need and brings our Level III neonatal care closer to families across rural Oklahoma.”
Dr. Craig Anderson leads the multidisciplinary team as board-certified neonatologist and medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. John Medical Center with nearly 13 years of experience at Ascension St. John.
“In rural Oklahoma, help can sometimes feel far away,” Anderson said. “Our NICU flight program allows us to reach newborns in need quickly while expanding access to the specialized care that we know will improve outcomes for our tiniest patients.”
The Mary K. Chapman NICU provides around-the-clock services including accommodations for family members and remote video monitoring through Angel Eye cameras so parents can view their babies anytime if they cannot travel themselves.
Recent upgrades include a $2 million investment from community donors into new patient monitoring systems designed for continuous observation with minimal disruption.
