Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is located on the third floor beside the birthing suites.
This service is available for babies who need more advanced care. The NICU has moved to a higher level of care and is now able to accept babies born as early as 26 weeks gestation.
Medical equipment is used to monitor the newborn’s heart rate and respirations. If there are emergencies, like a problem at delivery, a team from the NICU is always available to respond.
Newborns may be admitted for a number of reasons including:
- May be premature (36 weeks or less)
- Have respiratory problems
- May need observation for a potential problem
- May need IV fluids or antibiotics
We encourage parents to spend as much time as possible with their baby and to participate in the care. The NICU was built with this in mind. Each area surrounding an isolette has a daybed and rocker glider for families to stay close to their baby.
Families find it reassuring to know that our NICU staff is trained to care for infants who need a higher level of service. In addition, Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, Respiratory Therapists, Pediatricians and Neonatologists are available if needed.
Privacy curtains and “Quiet Please” signs help assure a restful area for the babies and their families. If a baby needs to stay in the hospital longer than mom, there are often rooms available for the parent’s use after the mother has been discharged from the Mother Baby Unit. Baby ducks, turtles, beavers and frogs note the room numbers in this area.
When families are getting ready to take their baby home from the NICU, the healthcare provider and nursing staff may suggest the family stay overnight in one of the two Family Rooms to take full responsibility for the baby’s care, and know the nurse is just on the other side of the door.
The purpose is to join together to utilize our experience, skills and training to develop a safe NICU environment that provides the highest standard of compassionate health care for babies under our care and supervision.
We are a physician group that has been providing quality newborn care and consultative services to physicians and hospitals since 1985.
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