Premature Infants and Newborns with Serious Illness

How we care for your newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Your Specialized Team

Your baby will be cared for by a special care team that includes eight full-time board-certified neonatologists (doctors who specialize in the care of sick newborns) and six certified neonatal nurse practitioners (NNP). One neonatologist and one NNP remain in the NICU at all times to immediately address your baby’s needs and respond to your concerns. Your baby’s health care team also includes a respiratory therapist, nutritionist, pediatric pharmacist, physical therapist, feeding specialist, social worker and pediatric specialists such as pediatric surgeons, pediatric cardiologists and pediatric neurologists.

 Your baby’s NICU team provides life-saving technologies and uses evidence-based treatments. We use the most advanced neonatal respirators to help babies breathe when they are too small or too sick to breathe on their own. The most up-to-date developmental methods are used to minimize stress, provide comfort and promote healing so your baby can concentrate all of his or her energy on growing with a minimal amount of pain and stress.

 Our NICU also works closely with maternal-fetal medicine specialists to provide care when needed for babies born after a high-risk pregnancy.

Family-Centered Care Philosophy

Your baby's care team also includes you. The NICU embraces the family-centered care philosophy, which means you as the parent are an integral part of your baby’s health care team. While in the NICU, babies do better when parents and other family members are involved in their care.

Why Our Care is Different

• Expertise: Hospitals throughout the region turn to us to care for their premature and sick newborns who need high-level expert care. Your baby’s team of neonatologists and NNPs work to get your baby home with your family as soon as possible.
• Family-centered support: Family involvement is encouraged 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Parents are not considered “visitors.” NICU staff members are sensitive to your needs and are committed to serving your entire family. NICU staff members receive great satisfaction hearing parents refer to them as “part of the family.” After your baby's discharge, our NICU team will follow-up with you to see how you are doing. We want you to feel confident about your care and we want to hear your concerns.
• Outcomes: Our NICU ranks nationally in positive outcomes for very high-risk newborns. We have a very low infection rate and rank in the 90^th percentile for parent satisfaction.
• Research and follow-up: The NICU team is involved in advanced clinical research and conducts an outpatient NICU Follow-Up Program to improve our care. The team is also involved in quality improvement projects to increase safety and decrease the risks associated with premature or sick newborns.
• Magnet nurses: Your baby’s NICU nurses stand out among the best in the nation. They have been designated Magnet nurses twice by the American Nurses Credentialing Center – the highest honor a health care organization can receive for quality nursing care. This means your baby’s care is in the hands of nurses who earn certifications in critical care and seek opportunities to discover better ways to care for patients.

This page last updated 4/19/11 09:25 AM