As a state-designated level IV regional perinatal center serving 15 counties in upstate New York, the Walter R.G. Baker neonatal intensive care unit provides the full range of services including cardiac, surgical and neuro-surgical care for the very sickest premature and full-term newborns in the area -- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Other hospitals from throughout the region transport their most sensitive neonatal cases to Crouse Hospital, with patients arriving by ambulance, or often by Medevac helicopter service to our rooftop heliport directly connected to the hospital.
The Baker NICU, part of the Kienzle Family Maternity Center, is located on the ninth floor of the Irving Unit. As a state-designated regional center, our NICU medical staff monitors past patients on an outpatient basis, working with the child's pediatrician to schedule developmental follow-up appointments. This process would continue until the child developmentally no longer needs these services.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has seven pods ranging from ANSY most acute) to GNSY (ready for discharge).
- NICU Staff
- Neonatal Intensive Care Outreach Program
- Ongoing Medical Research in the NICU
- NICU Statistics
- Annual "Preemie" Reunion
- NICU and the March of Dimes
- Visiting the NICU
- For More Information
NICU Staff
The staff and physicians in the NICU are the most experienced and specialized in the region. Due to the delicacy of many of these ill "preemies" and other infants, many of these tiny patients require several highly-trained medical professionals each. On a given day, more than 85 full-time staff members, plus many physicians and nurse practitioners, work around-the- clock to care for 45-55 newborns.Crouse Hospital's NICU is also the only center in the region with a board-certified neonatalogist in house 24 hours a day. Many of these neonatalogists have 15 years of experience or more. Accordingly, Crouse NICU nurses are required to have highly specialized training to work in the NICU.
Crouse Hospital is the only hospital in the central New York region providing neonatal ECLS support allowing local care of the sickest newborns. The ECLS Team is composed of physicians, a perfusionist, nurses and respiratory therapists.
Here's a look at the professional roles in the NICU:
Developmental Specialist
a professional with training in the development of infants who can answer any questions about your baby and will evaluate your baby in the NICU developmental follow-up clinic.Neonatologist
a pediatrician with advanced training in the care of sick newborns and premature infants. Eight neonatologists on staff provide coverage in the NICU 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Neonatal Nurse Manager
the nurse who is responsible for overall unit operations with the assistance of two clinical nurse supervisors.Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
a registered nurse (RN) who has received special training to care for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit under the direction of a neonatologist. Ten NNPs provide around-the-clock care in the Crouse NICU.Neonatal Staff Nurse
a registered nurse (RN) who has had training to care for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. All nursing staff on the NICU are registered nurses (RNs).Pediatrician
a physician with special training in the care of infants, children and teenagers.Pediatric Resident
a physician receiving special training in the care of infants, children and teenagers.Respiratory Therapist
a registered therapist (RT) trained to assist in the operation of respirators and other forms of respiratory support.Social Worker
a professional with special training to help families cope with their infant's hospitalization and to help them make necessary housing, transportation and financial arrangements. The social worker also assists with discharge plans.Neonatal Transport Team
Return to top of page.
Neonatal Intensive Care Outreach Programs
As a state-designated regional referral center, Crouse Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit and its staff teach other healthcare providers throughout the region.Once a year, the perinatal nurse coordinators, neonatologists, perinatologists and perinatal data representatives visit each of the 17 other local hospitals in the region. Their visits are carefully orchestrated, detailing specific procedures, medical practices, case reviews statistic and lecture topics to best care for these fragile patients. It is a way to make certain all area hospitals are maintaining the rigorous standards required.
Once a year, a nursing education visit consisting of two lectures is offered by our perinatal obstetric coordinator, a neonatal nurse practitioner, at each of the local hospitals in the region. Topics are selected by nurses at the institutions visited and continuing education units are given for all nurses and medical staff.
As a regional resource, individual educational consultations are often arranged upon request. In these cases, the requesting nursing and medical professionals typically travel to Crouse Hospital in Syracuse for this type of training.
Our staff also receives and maintains medical data from throughout the 15-county area. A team of specialists visit all of the area hospitals to troubleshoot data collection problems. This data is entered into Crouse Health's central database and is crucial to tracking trends, research and improving the care provided by Crouse Hospital and others.
Crouse Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit -- in conjunction with the State University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse's OB/GYN department -- sponsors an annual perinatal symposium for all, interested medical professionals each fall. Each symposium focuses on key topics in providing healthcare to "preemies" and infants, often featuring regional and national experts.
For more information on neonatal intensive care outreach and education, contact Brenda Bronstad, Neonatal Transport Coordinator at:
e-mail: Bronstad.Brenda@snet.hcds.com
phone: 315/470-7379
fax: 315/470-2923
or Janet Press, Perinatal Obstetric Coordinator at:
e-mail: press.janet@snet.hcds.com
phone: 315/470-7372Return to top of page.
Ongoing Medical Research in the NICU
As a regional leader in children's healthcare, Crouse Hospital physicians and staff are often engaged in life-saving research. Here are but a few of the ongoing projects that will make the prognosis for critically ill infants even brighter than it is today. In each example, researching physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and staff work very closely together to gather information and test results."Neuro and Pulmonary Developmental Outcomes of High-Risk Preemies"
For the past 10 years, Dr. Steven Gross, neonatalogist, has led the documentation of the improving track record of preemies in these ways. This helps the medical community better understand the progress it has made and where there's room for improvement."Nutritional Management Studies for Preemies"
Dr. Steven Gross, neonatalogist, has guided a study of natural breast milk and its nutritional advantages and deficiencies when provided to high-risk premature infants. This study has already led to the development of a powdered breastmilk fortifier now being tested in conjunction with a pharmaceutical company."Pulmonary Hypertension in Full-term Infants"
Dr. Ellen Bifano, neonatalogist, is working with Crouse Hospital staff to test the impact of nitric oxide to reduce elevated blood pressure in lung arteries of these small patients. These studies have led to FDA approval of nitric oxide for newborn infants. Further studies are underway evaluating the most efficient use of this therapy."Anemia of Prematurity"
Dr. Ellen Bifano, over the past 10 years has studied transfusion practice in anemic pre-term infants, examining ways to limit risks of transfusion while maximizing benefits."Newborn Hearing Testing"
Dr. Steven Gross has been the principle investigator in testing the hearing of all newborns at Crouse Hospital. As the only hospital in central New York and one of eight sites in New York state selected and funded by the Department of Health to do this research, Crouse implements and evaluates a non-intrusive, oto-acoustic emission hearing screening on all newborns. The service is provided at no cost to the infant's family."Perinatal Data Collection"
The investigating team has developed a database for all births in our region to track the progress of infants requiring intensive care. Based partly on results from Crouse Hospital, this research program is now being extended to other regions in the state, in order to create a single state-wide database for all healthcare providers to access.Return to top of page.
NICU Statistics
(as of 3/20/01)
- Crouse Hospital offers the highest level of care for severely ill infants from a 15-county area of central New York.
- 1/3 of infant patients are transported by our trained transport team from outlying hospitals via a specially equipped transport ambulance or Medevac (a State Police helicopter that lands on the roof of the parking garage connected to the hospital).
- Many mothers who are at risk for complications during pregnancy or childbirth are sent to Crouse Hospital to deliver, so that their babies can receive the special care they need right from birth.
- Of the 900+ babies we care for annually:
50% are premature, weighing less than 5.5 lbs;
50% are infants with birth defects, breathing problems or cardiac problems or are recovering from neonatal surgery.- The first 72 hours of a newborn's life are the most critical.
- On a give day, more than 85 registered nurses work 24-hours-a-day in the intensive care nursery.
- Neonatal nurses undergo three months of specialized orientation.
- A team of eight pediatricians with special neonatalogy training and 10 neonatal nurse practitioners provide in house coverage to the NICU around the clock.
- Neonatal social workers are in the hospital to help parents cope by:
- arranging accommodations for out-of-town parents
- arranging for therapy sessions
- helping with special financial arrangements
- securing equipment for at-home use
- offering parents one-on-one counseling.
- As they get better, babies may be transported to hospitals closer to their families.
- A public health nurse, upon referral from the hospital, visits parents when the child is first hospitalized and after the child returns home.
Return to top of page.
Annual "Preemie" Reunion
Once a year, Crouse Hospital hosts a Preemie Reunion, which brings past premature babies and their families together with the medical professionals and staff who saved these tiny lives. Invitations are sent to every family who has ever had a child in the NICU who benefitted from our services. More than 400 former "preemies" and their families attend this annual celebration of life.Return to top of page.
NICU and the March of Dimes
Crouse Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has traditionally been closely aligned with many local charities that benefit children's health, most notably the local chapter of the March of Dimes. For many years, staff members have served on its board of directors and form a Crouse Health team for its annual walk. Proceeds go towards education and research to prevent birth defects --knowledge our NICU team uses as soon as it's released.Return to top of page.
Visiting the NICU
Although the NICU provides around-the-clock healthcare for dozens of infants each day, visiting must be limited to parents and grandparents, and in some instances, siblings.Visiting is not permitted during physician rounds so that the staff can provide optimal care for all infants and ensure patient confidentiality.
Visiting Hours
(Please refer to your visiting information card for specific hours)Parent Visitation
Parents are welcome and encouraged to visit as frequently as possible. We recognize that having your infant in the NICU is stressful; and while we strongly encourage you to visit your baby, we ask your cooperation in complying with our visiting hours.Family Visitation
Visiting for family members is open to grandparents in the NICU. Parents may take pictures to show to other family members and friends who are not permitted to visit the NICU.When visiting, please follow these guidelines:
- Remove coats and hang in provided area.
- Wash and dry hands and arms thoroughly.
- Rewash hands if you have touched your face, hair, purse, camera, etc.
- Remain at your own baby's bedside.
- Only parents are allowed to hold their infant.
- Only two visitors at the bedside at a time. Grandparents must be accompanied by a parent.
- Visitors must be free of illness (colds, coughs, rash, diarrhea, sore throat, vomiting, etc.).
- Parents may check with staff regarding specific sibling guidelines.
Return to top of page.
For More Information
To request more information please contact interim Nurse Managers Kathy Costello, RN or Helen Johnson, RN
phone: 315/470-7016
fax: 315/470-2880
mailing address:
Kathy Costello, RN or
Helen Johnson, RN
NICU - 9 Irving
Crouse Hospital
736 Irving Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13210Return to top of page.
Contact our webmaster with
any questions or comments regarding this web site.
DISCLAIMER: This Web site is intended to provide general health-related information
only and is not intended
to be the source of specific healthcare advice.
All visitors to this site are advised to consult with their own
physician
regarding their specific healthcare questions and concerns, and to discuss
any information provided
through this site with their physician before
taking any action with regard to their own healthcare needs.
All contents Copyright ©
Crouse Health, Syracuse, NY. All Rights
Reserved.