Our 38-bed level II & level III unit is the regional referral center for the State of Alaska serving all Alaskans including the Alaska Native and military populations. We do this through our LifeGuard Air Ambulance transport services with a specialized prenatal team, and our Providence House, which provides guest housing for parents and family traveling from outside Anchorage. The types of medical challenges treated in the unit include: pre-term birth, babies born at 22 weeks gestation and weighing as little as 1 pound, 1 ounce; Babies born with an infection; Babies who are stressed during birth and need more attention than in the newborn nursery; Babies born with a congenital anomaly such as spina bifida, bowel conditions and heart defects. Our goal in the Newborn ICU is to provide state of the art compassionate care for sick newborn babies. We are sensitive to the individual family needs as well as the developmental needs of the baby. Working as an interdisciplinary team our efforts have received national recognition for “family-centered care.” The Newborn ICU provides specialized services for newborn critical care except for major cardiac surgery. In order to establish a relationship before the infant leaves the hospital, the family’s pediatrician is continually updated in the baby’s care. This makes the transition to home easier for both the baby and the parents. Books and articles about care specific to premature and acutely ill babies are available at the bedside through the nursing staff or in the Family Resource Library. Families may conduct their own search to get specific information about prematurity and common complications in newborns. Parents for Parents is a support network of graduate parents. Having previously been a Newborn ICU parent, they offer a unique insight into the department and offer tips on how to parent a baby while in the Newborn ICU environment. Information is available about this support group at 261-5895. | 
