One of the most exciting times for new parents is bringing home their newborn for the first time, so it can be frightening, overwhelming or stressful when a sick or premature baby must be admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  At Plantation General Hospital, we have one of the highest quality NICUs in the country, offering Level III care for newborns needing critical medical care around the clock and caring support and education designed to help their parents.

PGH delivers more than 4,000 babies each year, and the 31-bed NICU is one of the busiest in the country, as well as one of the few hospitals in South Florida providing the highest level of in-hospital neonatal care.

About 10 to 15% of babies born in the U.S. each year are treated in a NICU, according to the March of Dimes.  Some of the reasons newborns require intensive care are:

• Premature birth
• Difficult delivery
• Breathing problems
• Infections
• Birth defects, such as problems with their heart or metabolism

PGH has a Level III unit providing the highest level of medical care for critically ill and premature babies requiring close observation.  The unit consists of the following members and facilities:

Five board-certified and attending-level neonatologists on staff full time

• One neonatologist on-site 24/7 to assure a specialist is always available
• All of the nurses in the NICU are experienced and highly trained in neonatal intensive care and keep up to date on the latest advances and technology available
• During daylight hours physicians are assisted by experienced neonatal nurse practitioners
• A respiratory therapist is also continually assigned to the NICU
• Individual lighting for each baby, typically set to low levels, and acoustic shielding, to provide an atmosphere conducive to healing and well-being

The Level II progressive care unit is for babies who are more stable.  At this level, parents are considered part of the care team as infants improve. Therefore parents receive plenty of support:

• Help with preparations to make the transition from hospital to home including obtaining insurance approval for hope equipment, medications and skilled care if necessary
• “Rooming in” service for parents prior to discharge on complex cases.  These rooms allow them to practice skills they will need to make the transition
• Education including breastfeeding and CPR classes
• A NICU parent support group is available once a month

 For more information about Plantation General Hospital’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care services, log onto our website at www.plantationgeneral.com or call 1-866-4HCA-DOCS.