Neonatal transport: communication--the essential element.

The Bronson Methodist Hospital Neonatal Transport System (Kalamazoo, MI) has identified effective communication as a necessity when providing optimal patient care. Our experience shows that good communication comes only from good relationships between our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staff and each referring hospital's staff. This article describes the two educational methods used to aid these relationships: the development of site visits and the distribution of informative publications. By using these methods, our relationships with our 17 referring hospital staffs have improved, which has had a direct bearing on more effective communication during neonatal transport.