NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
Expert care for infants with special health needs
Peace River Regional’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides exceptional care for critically ill or premature infants. Our specially trained neonatal care professionals utilize the latest technological advances to deliver expert diagnosis and treatment. Our NICU is staffed 24 hours a day by highly specialized neonatal care nurses and doctors who are focused on the needs of newborns and parents. The NICU provides a wide range of care, including:
- Premature infants
- Birth defects and genetic syndromes
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Infections or sepsis
- Kidney disorders
- Respiratory disorders
Features of our NICU
- Affiliated with All Children’s/Johns Hopkins
- A 7-bed unit that will provide care for infants weighing more than 2 1/4 pounds
- State-of-the-art equipment to care for premature or ill newborn infants
- Individual rooms, or pods, with the latest in technology to allow these infants to grow naturally while remaining bonded with their families
- A breastfeeding room to assist and counsel breastfeeding mothers
- Transport equipment to allow staff to care for premature infants in operating rooms or the emergency room
Your baby's health care team
Your baby has a health care team of specially trained professionals. These members of the NICU team will work together with you to develop an individualized plan of care for your baby.
Clinical dietitian - has special expertise in nutrition for babies
Developmental intervention team
- Occupational therapist - has special training in infant development
- Physical therapist - has special training in assessing and helping muscle tone and movement problems
- Speech & language pathologist - has special training in feeding problems like sucking and swallowing
Lactation consultant - specializes in breastfeeding and the understanding of lactation fundamentals
Neonatologist - specifically trained to care for newborn infants who are ill or requiring special medical care due to prematurity
Nursing staff - will most frequently care for your baby, develop your baby’s nursing care plan and teach you to care for him/her
Pharmacist - has special expertise in medications for babies
Resource manager - assists with non-medical issues, such as insurance, transportation and emotional support
Respiratory therapist - has special training for care and management of oxygen, breathing machines, etc.
To learn more about prematurity, please visit March of Dimes, About Prematurity.