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Providing a Helping Hand for Our Tiniest Patients
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Providence Tarzana Medical Center is designed to provide highly specialized care for critically ill babies regardless of birth weight, gestational age, or place of birth. Approximately 15% of our admitted babies are either transferred from surrounding hospitals or admitted from home (at less than one month of age). The NICU provides some of the most advanced equipment and strategies of care available today for diagnosing and treating critically ill newborns.
Best Practices
The NICU at Providence Tarzana Medical Center is a participant in multiple clinical data base networks created to evaluate the quality and outcomes of neonatal practices. The network hospitals share data in an attempt to develop best practices of care for critically ill infants. Providence Tarzana Medical Center's NICU has participated in the Vermont Oxford network data base project since 1997 and has consistently ranked among the best 25% in almost all measured outcomes.
 “Our NICU has been a long term member of multiple newborn ICU database networks because of our commitment to truly understand how our babies respond to treatment,” says Dr. James Banks, Medical Director of NICU (pictured left). “For without objectively evaluating our care, we would never really be able to understand our areas of strength or areas that are in need of attention. We have used the clinical information provided by Vermont Oxford Network, California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative and the Pediatrix Medical Group research program to both reinforce the high level of quality care delivered and remind us to never be complacent.”
The Staff
The NICU requires a comprehensive team of health care professionals who specialize in the intensive care needs of critically ill neonates, which include:
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Board certified neonatologists
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Masters prepared neonatal nurse practitioners
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Specially trained NICU registered nurses
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Neonatal respiratory therapists
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Neonatal physical and occupational therapists
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Registered dietitian
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Masters prepared social worker
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Discharge planner
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Neonatal pharmacist
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Neonatal critical care transport team
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Pediatric subspecialty physicians such as: cardiology, neurology, genetics, gastroenterology and dermatology
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Pediatric general and sub-specialty surgeons
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Developmental follow-up clinical staff
Family Centered Care
Our entire neonatal team works closely with parents in a supportive environment to determine what the most appropriate course of treatment will be for their baby. We also acknowledge and respect each family’s cultural needs and preferences by providing personalized care.
 “In addition to the intensive medical care we provide, we also encourage the parents to be involved in all aspects of care such as holding, feeding, changing diapers and bathing as their baby’s condition improves,” says Brenda James, RN, Nurse Manager for the NICU (pictured left). “Parents and caregivers have 24-hour access to their baby.”
Individualized Family Conferences
These meetings occur on an “as needed” basis. Each infant has a personal NICU team, which consists of:
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Parents and caregivers
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Primary physician or nurse practitioner
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Specialty physicians
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Occupational therapist/physical therapist
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Social worker and discharge planner
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Primary bedside nurse
Rooming In
The “Rooming In” program is designed to empower parents with confidence in their ability to care for their baby before taking them home. Parents and other caregivers are encouraged to spend an entire day or night providing “total” care to their infant a day or two before discharge under the
supervision of the bedside nurse.
Kangaroo Care
Kangaroo care is a skin-to-skin method of contact between infants and their parents to enhance bonding. As soon as an infant is stable enough to come out of the isolette, parents can enjoy some quality quiet time with their new infants in a comfortable and private setting. Special recliners are provided to the parents in a screened area with soft lighting.
Lactation Consultant
Because we encourage mothers to breastfeed their infants, a lactation consultant is available in the NICU at bedside twice a week by appointment. Additional lactation support is available as needed. The consultant provides one-on-one breastfeeding assistance and education to nursing mothers, as well as breastfeeding management strategies and techniques.
Follow-up Clinic
We have another very specialized team to assist you after you take your baby home. The High-risk Infant Follow-up Program specialists can evaluate your baby’s physical, neurological and emotional growth during the first three years of life. Our team collaborates directly with your baby’s pediatrician to promote continuity of care. The first appointment for the follow-up program is scheduled for approximately 3–6 months after
your baby’s discharge from the NICU or as referred by your pediatrician.
Contact Us
For more information please call (818) 609-2280.
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