Neonatal transport in Texas

The critically ill newborn requires specialized care, which is generally provided in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We surveyed all identifiable NICUs in the state of Texas to study deficiencies in the current system. Despite the existence of many neonatal transport teams, little or nothing has been done to coordinate similar efforts at different programs or to organize programs into sharing the responsibility of transport among the less served areas of Texas. The lack of adequate reimbursement may be a limiting factor in the organization and regionalization of neonatal transport. We urge further efforts toward coordination and regionalization of transport with an examination of reimbursement policies to allow teams to share equally the responsibility of neonatal transport in Texas.