An Experienced Team to Count On
Experienced, dedicated employees work well together even in the most critical care times . . .
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at SMH is a special place that brings together a team of neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, plus a family case coordinator, occupational therapist, social worker, lactation consultant, nutritionist, and a parent support coordinator. The caring and compassionate team works with families to provide comprehensive care for premature babies and other newborns with special medical needs. NICU staff members may attend deliveries and receive neonates from the Labor and Delivery Unit, Mother Baby Unit, those born at home, private birthing houses, the Emergency Care Center, and also transfers from other hospitals. The experienced staff includes many long-term, dedicated employees who work well together even in the most critical care times. Hands-on care is backed by the latest in medical equipment and innovative communication systems. Medical care is planned to address the individual needs of babies and their families using a family-centered, developmentally supportive approach.
Care Tailored to Baby and Family Needs
Easing transition to home is a goal that is worked on from the day of admission to day of discharge. . .
 The SMH NICU is dedicated to delivering medical care using a family-centered, developmentally supportive approach which, research shows, supports going home sooner and leads to better long-term outcomes. Families are encouraged to be involved in planning and to participate in care, at every level of baby's progress. Parents receive an informative handbook developed by the staff, and additional educational materials to support learning and preparation for assuming baby's care. A parent lounge is available near the unit and a room to stay overnight with baby, is available for use prior to going home.
From the beginning, babies need an environment that supports their survival and normal development. This environment needs to minimize stress and promote comfort. Since babies can communicate their level of stress by body signals, behavior, or vital signs, these are carefully watched. Stress signals mean that the environment may need to change. Changes such as lowering lights, reducing noise, changing baby's position, or giving baby a break in activity can make a difference. Parents learn to recognize these signals and can use them to guide their care-giving and social times with baby while in the hospital and later, at home.
The best environment is one that includes baby's parents in the most natural ways possible, such as providing Kangaroo Care which means holding baby skin-to-skin on a parents chest. This is encouraged for medically stable babies and is excellent preparation for breastfeeding.
The unit's philosophy recognizes that changes in care need to occur regularly due to on-going research results. The Neonatal Outcome Improvement Team, Developmental Care Committee and a group of advanced nurses coordinate with management to put innovative ideas into practice, based on current research.
Care designed to be family-centered and developmentally supportive.
Support for Baby's Growth
Feeding is a huge task for babies and those in the NICU often need extra help. Since feeding success helps get baby home earlier, a special team meets weekly with the neonatologist to assess and support baby's feeding progress and to assure nutritional needs are met. Parents learn some simple ways to be a partner with baby during feeding, in order for it to be more successful and rewarding. The Breastfeeding mother is assisted in pumping and preparing from the day of admission. Experience of nuzzling at breast may begin when baby gives signs of readiness and actual breastfeeding may start as soon as baby is ready to take nutrition by mouth.
" Special Beginnings" - Support for Parents
Special Beginnings is a parent support program for families who have experienced the birth of a premature or "at risk" baby. The goals of the group are to: enable families to share their experiences and feelings, provide resource materials and help families know that they are not alone in their situation. Monthly meetings are organized as needed with topics guided by parents' interests. The Parent Support Coordinator develops a relationship with families and supports them through all aspects of their NICU experience from admission to discharge, including grief counseling. A library of information is available on specific diagnoses or conditions and related resources, such as foundations, Internet sites and support groups.
For more information call
our Parent Support Coordinator: (941) 917-2470.
" Memories to Hold" - Bereavement Support
The loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death is a
devastating experience. Grief is the pain of loss; bereavement is a process
you move through to resolve that pain. A supportive environment is an
important and necessary part of resolving grief and reorganizing one's life.
Memories to Hold Support Group meets the third Wednesday of every month from
7:00p.m.- 8:30p.m. in the third floor chapel. Please call 917-2468 for more
information
A Mobile Transport Team Ready When Needed
On call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week . . .
Specially trained Nurses and Respiratory Therapists are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for inter-hospital ground transport, utilizing the SMH state-of-the-art, customized Maternal/Neonatal Critical Care Ambulance. The ambulance allows transport of mother and/or baby as needed to or from SMH.
Care That Continues At Home
The Family Case Coordinator works closely with families to support all aspects of discharge planning. If needed, Nursing care is arranged at home for those babies and families who need it. This service is currently under expansion to assist parents in being more comfortable with earlier discharge.
Part of the care at SMH includes close monitoring of developmental progress after discharge. Through developmental check-ups, parents are given the opportunity to have feedback on baby's accomplishments and are directed to supportive community services or therapies if needed. There are two follow-up programs available after discharge to assist a family in supporting their baby's continued progress. The hospital foundation funded Good Start Program and the state funded Infants & Toddlers Early Intervention Program work in tandem to offer developmental check-ups and parenting support during the first several years.
Phone: 941-917-1043
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