Newborn babies who need intensive medical attention are often admitted into a special area of the hospital called the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU. NICUs specialize in the care of ill or premature infants (less than 34 weeks gestation) requiring close observation.

Our Banner Health hospital NICUs combine advanced technology and trained health care professional with personal care and attention to provide specialized care for the tiniest and often most fragile patients. NICUs may also have intermediate or continuing care areas for babies who are not as sick but may need specialized nursing care.

Our experienced and specially trained NICU care teams can include neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists and other caregivers who provide intensive and intermediate care for babies born at any gestational age. They work together with family members to develop a plan of care for high-risk newborns. Our neonatologists and nurse practitioners are available around-the-clock to provide care.

Each baby has unique needs, which is why very premature babies may have a developmental specialist, a specially trained registered nurse who evaluates the baby's unique strengths and challenges. With each evaluation, the developmental specialist partners with the family and other caregivers to make hospitalization less stressful for both the baby and the family.

The members of the NICU team work together with parents to develop a plan of care for high-risk newborns, with the ultimate goal of helping parents transition their babies home.