Description
The NICU renders care to all newborn infants, regardless of size, diagnosis, race, ethnicity, or financial background. At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, we believe that family-centered care is an essential part of each family’s experience. We partner with families to provide the most appropriate daily care and decision-making for their infants. The unit is staffed by registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, support staff, respiratory therapists, a pharmacist, a nutritionist, residents, fellows, and neonatologists.
Scope of Service
The scope of care delivered is a full continuum, beginning with antenatal consults for families who will potentially have an infant in the NICU. The NICU provides intensive care including the provision of high frequency oscillator ventilation, ECMO, Nitric Oxide, conventional ventilation, all medical and surgical subspecialties and multisystem support.
When the patient no longer needs intensive care, care will be provided in the most appropriate place for that infant and family, whether it be a continued stay in the NICU, or in a special care nursery that can better meet all the needs of the infant and family. The NICU does provide transitional care to assist families in making the transition from illness to wellness. While in transitional care, the family receives complete preparation for discharge including teaching, coordination of home care, coordination of community resources, and home assessment, if necessary.