A Special Place for Special Babies
For babies who are born too soon, or with complex needs, the intensive care nursery provides state-of-the-art specialized care — under the leadership of Scott Mutchler, M.D., pediatric critical care — and the skillful, caring presence of highly trained registered nurses and therapists.
Here at Innovis Health, our NICU is state-of-the-art. Our team of providers includes physicians who specialize in critical care for newborns, experienced neonatal nurses, dieticians, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, and case managers—all of whom are involved and contribute to your little one reaching his or her optimal health.
Visitation
You may feel that there isn’t anything you can do to help make your baby well. Visitation plays a big part in your baby’s recovery and we welcome and encourage your presence. For example, once your baby can be held, we encourage skin-to-skin care (also called kangaroo care). In this type of care, your baby will recognize your voice and will be greatly comforted by your presence.
Visitation guidelines are in place for the best care for your baby. The only time visitation is not permitted is during shift change. This is not meant to exclude you, but rather to protect the privacy of all babies in the NICU. Shift change occurs at 7 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m. and usually lasts 30 minutes. If needed, you may call to talk with your baby’s nurse any time you desire—day or night.
Your baby may have two visitors at a time. All visitors must do a three-minute hand and arm scrub before entering the NICU. One visitor must have an I.D. band. Children may visit if they are well and have had either chicken pox or the chicken pox vaccination. No one may visit if they are ill. If you, as the parent, have cold symptoms, we will provide a face mask for you to wear.
Safety and privacy
Your baby’s privacy is respected at Innovis Health. Due to federal restrictions, we can’t give information out to anyone other than the parents. Often times, grandparents or other family members call to check on your baby—we are not allowed to share this information with them. Please let your family and friends know this policy to save them the frustration of calling. Also, when you visit the NICU, you will see that it is primarily one big room with babies other than your own. We ask that you focus your visits and questions on your own special baby, as we will not give out information on the other babies.
To help keep our babies safe, Innovis Health Birthing Center is a locked unit. Please let your friends and family know they need to ring the doorbell and state the first and last name of who they are visiting before we allow them entrance to the Birthing Center. The NICU is also locked. You must ring the doorbell and someone will answer it to admit you into the room.
Your baby will receive I.D. bands at birth. Mother and one other person of her choosing are given a matching set of I.D. bands. Please do not take your band off after leaving the hospital. We will match I.D. bands each time you visit your baby, as well as when you take your baby home.
Once again, congratulations on the birth of your new baby! Even though your baby's stay in the NICU was more than likely not something you planned, we sincerely hope your experience was positive and that we successfully met your needs and expectations.
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