Meet the team who literally keeps Lutheran Hospital moving

At Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, there’s a team that powers patient care. The transport team, led by Chantelle Cobourn, manager of transport services, is the behind-the-scenes force that keeps the hospital in motion 24/7. With a team of around 50 members, this group is responsible for far more than just moving patients. Responsibilities include managing oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, beds, and nutrition trays.

“Every department here at the hospital—we're somehow helping or touching every department,” Chantelle said.

This wide-reaching impact is evident in their daily routines. From early-morning neurocritical care and dialysis transports to bed rounding, wheelchair collection, and patient discharges, the team is constantly on the move. “We do between 20,000 and 25,000 steps a day at the new hospital, which is huge,” Chantelle said.  

Their dedication was evident on May 4, when the team completed a record-breaking 450 patient transports in a single day—the most since moving into the new hospital. That number doesn’t even include the countless other tasks handled that day, including responding to system downtime. To help support clinical caregivers during the Epic downtime, Chantelle deployed team members to each floor to be visible and immediately available.

Transport roles often serve as a launchpad for future healthcare professionals. Many members are at the beginning of their careers and are encouraged to explore various paths—from EMT roles to nursing and beyond.

“They're here because they want to be in healthcare,” said Jacob Fields, the transport lead for Lutheran. “They want to learn. They want to grow.” Chantelle echoed this sentiment: “Transport’s a stepping stone into this hospital. With transport, you can see everything, and then you can choose what you want.”

That encouragement is paying off. In the past year, approximately 10 team members have moved on to other roles within Intermountain Health. One team member recently expressed interest in becoming a NICU nurse by shadowing a professional in the field.

“She came back, she goes, ‘OK, that's it. Let's make a plan.’ So, Monday morning, we're making a plan for her to go to [nursing] school,” Chantelle said.

However, the team’s impact isn’t limited to helping careers take off. Transport caregivers make a meaningful difference at the hospital every day. Since moving to the new facility, the team has also helped reduce door-to-CT time by 15 minutes, according to Jacob.

On a human level, transporters often find themselves present during some of the most vulnerable moments in a patient’s journey, offering comfort and reassurance.

“They're not the doctor or the nurse,” Chatelle said. “Patients aren’t being pricked or prodded by them, so they feel safer talking to them about what's going on. They're scared. So, my team really comforts them during their transport.”

Some moments call for even more. “I've had three on my team do CPR on a patient,” she said. “They do jump in.” And while they’re known for being helpful and hardworking, Chantelle added with a smile, “We're also the easiest-going department there is.”

The transport team may not always be in the spotlight, but this group is essential to Lutheran Hospital. Their work keeps things moving—literally—and helps ensure every patient receives the care they need.