Special care for special babies. That's what the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Providence St. Vincent is all about. Designed for critically ill newborns and their families, our Level III, state-of-the-art facility is the only NICU in Washington County. Many of the infants in the NICU are born prematurely and need special care while they grow. Others are full-term babies who need medical or surgical treatment.
The doctors and nurses who work in the NICU have advanced education and training in caring for these fragile babies. Yet they also understand the fragile emotions of new parents. Having a baby in the NICU is very stressful for families. The staff understands the fears, hopes and even the exhaustion of NICU families. Parents are encouraged to visit often, talk to their babies, touch them, hold them when possible, and learn to participate in their daily care.
As families prepare to take their babies home, the NICU discharge planner works with them to arrange for home medical assistance or equipment that may be needed. For parents and babies, the Providence NICU is a special place for a special time. You can get more information, on this or any of our other programs and services, by calling the Providence Resource Line, at 503-574-6595.
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