> At a Glance
> – Janice Berry flies NICU missions for Children’s National Hospital, cutting 2.5-hour drives to 40 minutes.
> – She’s logged thousands of regional helicopter flights in her 27-year career.
> – Transport team can include just Berry, a paramedic, and a pilot-or add respiratory therapists and doctors.
> – Why it matters: Rapid air transport gives critically ill newborns a faster, safer shot at specialized care.
For families whose babies arrive early or critically ill, every minute counts. Janice Berry-a veteran neonatal transport nurse-bridges that gap from hundreds of feet above Washington, D.C., turning long ambulance hauls into quick, life-saving flights.
Mission in the Sky
Berry traded the NICU floor for the helicopter cabin after 12 years at Children’s National Hospital. Now she packs a portable isolation incubator, monitors weather briefings, and lifts off to community hospitals across the region.
> “We generally know the baby’s condition, equipment needs, and crew size before take-off,” she tells News Of Los Angeles.
Typical configurations:
- Berry + paramedic + pilot
- Additional respiratory therapist if airway support is needed
- Occasionally a physician for high-acuity cases
From Emergency to Birthday Parties
Berry’s role doesn’t stop at transport. She calms anxious parents, explains Children’s National care plans, and reassures them that air transfer-though not part of any birth plan-offers their infant the best odds.
> “I love seeing families weeks later, thriving together. I was invited to a first birthday recently-full circle moment,” she says.
Key Takeaways
- Helicopter NICU transport reduces travel time by ~80%.
- Each flight is tailored: crew size, gear, and medical contingencies planned in advance.
- Berry’s 27 years at the hospital underscore the program’s stability.
- Personal follow-ups highlight long-term impact on families.
High above the capital, Berry’s daily commute is anything but ordinary-yet for fragile newborns, it’s a lifeline that can rewrite their first chapters.
