Neonatal Intensive Care

En Español

Encuentre información acerca de los servicios de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales.

Few expectant parents consider the possibility that their baby may need special medical care after birth. Rest assured, that St. John’s Regional Medical Center features a brand new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staffed by expert neonatologists and neonatal nurses. It is twice the square footage as our previous unit, allowing for private rooms, adjoined rooms to accommodate twins, lactation areas and sleeping accommodations for a parent/care partner.   

Intensive care for infants is provided at three levels. Level I Nurseries treat normal newborns requiring some additional nursing care, while Level II NICUs treat moderately ill babies. A Level III NICU, like ours at St. John’s, provides advanced treatment for seriously ill, low birth weight and premature babies, including micro preemies. This is a designation only given to hospitals that can care for the most complicated births.  

Especially Designed NICU

St. John’s Regional Medical Center NICU has recently been expanded to 20 private rooms (with the ability to combine twins). Each room features sophisticated and specialized care, including:  

• Invasive monitoring 
• Conventional ventilation 
• High frequency oscillator ventilation 
• Transport service 
• Giraffe Omnibed Incubators – provides a supportive microenvironment for preemies 
• Designated area for the highest acuity NICU patients who require the latest specialized technology 
• “Whole Body Cooling” to treat neonatal brain injury 
• A quiet and dimly lit environment to help nurture these special babies 

The new private rooms are also equipped to allow a visitor to comfortably spend the night in the room with the baby. Additionally, a family lounge with kitchenette and shower are available to help make families with a little one in our care more comfortable.  

Conditions for NICU Stay 

The following conditions are the primary reasons babies receive treatment in the NICU: 

• Any unusual stressors within the first hours or days of life 
• Cardiac conditions 
• Congenital anomalies 
• Prematurity 
• Respiratory/birth transition issues 

Our NICU gives infants a greater chance to thrive. It’s designed to provide an atmosphere that limits stress to the infant and meets basic needs of warmth, nutrition and protection to assure proper growth and development.  

Visiting Your Infant 

All visitor access to the NICU is restricted until further notice. 

We understand this is a sensitive situation for loved ones, but this is an important step we are taking in delaying the spread of the coronavirus while also protecting you and your loved ones, as well as our staff, physicians, and volunteers. 

• Exceptions are made to allow one care partner, per patient, per day in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• Visitors for patients who are minors are considered on a case-by-case basis and must be accompanied by a care partner at all times. 
• Care partners must be 18 years of age or older and in good health.

Electronic communication options are available as an alternative to hospital visitation.

Dedicated Doctors and Staff 

Our experienced team of health care professionals is well prepared to offer a full range of specialized services, using state of the art technology. Some of the services we provide include: 

• All staff is certified in Neonatal Resuscitation, including the team that tends to high risk and cesarean deliveries. 
• Our physicians and nurses provide daily bedside rounds, including weekly interdisciplinary rounds, where parents are encouraged to participate in a comprehensive update on their baby. 
• Family-centered care that is focused on creating an environment conducive to parent-baby bonding. 
• High Risk Follow-Up Program, which offers developmental follow up for high risk newborns up to age three.  

NICU Virtual Tour

St. John's NICU virtual tour offers a convenient preview of our facility, featuring:

• 20 private family-centered rooms
• Suites with the ability to combine twins
• State-of-the-art incubators
• Accommodations for a visitor overnight
• Family lounge with kitchenette and shower