Children's One (Children's Hospital Colorado)

Children's One Emergency Transport is part of Children's Hospital Colorado. It provides emergency medical transport for infants, children, and teens. The program serves patients across all Colorado counties, a seven-state region around Colorado, other parts of the United States, and some international locations. Transport is available 24 hours a day every day.

The transport fleet includes an Airbus EC145 helicopter and a Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing airplane. These aircraft operate under FAA Part 135 regulations, with flight operations handled by Metro Aviation. The Pilatus PC-12 can land in smaller rural airports with shorter runways. Ground ambulance services are provided by American Medical Response, which operates two dual-load ambulances capable of transporting twins. The ambulances include child-sized medical equipment and provide toys and entertainment to comfort young patients during transport.

Children's One flight and ground clinical teams have a minimum of four years of critical care experience. Teams include pediatric emergency nurses, respiratory therapists, and EMTs. Physician medical directors oversee the program with expertise in neonatology, pediatric critical care, and emergency medicine. Founded in 1974 by neonatologist L. Joseph Butterfield, MD, the program has over 45 years of service to Colorado children and includes more than 100 team members.

The specialized pediatric equipment in the vehicles includes high-frequency ventilators and nitric oxide therapy to support critical patients during transport. Patients are brought to Children's Colorado emergency departments, surgery centers, or critical care units. The emergency transport services focus on the needs of children and make the transport experience as comfortable as possible for patients and families.

The program continues its founding mission to provide critical care emergency transport for the smallest and most vulnerable patients in the region. It is staffed by trained pediatric clinicians and pilots with dedicated support teams. The use of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and ambulances allows flexibility to reach urban and rural locations. Flight operations remain under FAA Part 135 regulations with Metro Aviation as the aviation operator.

Services

• Critical care air transport
• Ground ambulance transport
• Neonatal transport
• Pediatric emergency transport
• Twin patient transport
• Transport to emergency departments
• Transport to surgery centers
• Transport to critical care units
• 24/7 emergency response
• Pediatric respiratory therapy