Neonatology

As a specialty care resource for families and community hospitals throughout the Midwest, the neonatal intensive care nursery at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital provides the ideal environment for the delivery of care to critically ill or premature infants. The Level III, 24-bed unit is located adjacent to the maternity wing at Advocate Christ Medical Center, enabling the division to provide its neonatal patients with the medical and surgical expertise of its pediatric specialists, while keeping the mother and newborn in close proximity for maximum interaction.

The unit includes an intermediate care nursery, homebound unit with broadened visiting privileges, and the Parenting Inn room, where parents can spend a 24-hour period learning to care for their child at home.

Neonatal capabilities at Hope Children's Hospital include:

• Co-perinatal center with the University of Illinois
• Management of severe prematurity and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
• High-frequency jet oscillation ventilation
• Nitric oxide therapy
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
• Kangaroo Care (parent and child therapeutic skin-to-skin contact)

In addition, multiple organ system diseases in newborns can be managed by a team of experts in various pediatric and pediatric surgical specialties.

The hospital's neonatal intensive care nursery maintains a multitiered philosophy of treatment. The medical and clinical staff promotes parent education and advocacy for the child, communication and interaction between the family and medical team, and an encircled team approach to treatment from pediatric specialists.

The treatment team has adopted a holistic approach, working with the infants and their families to ensure emotional and spiritual bonding. The team is also committed to communication with the referring physician or institution, ultimately transferring most patients to a community facility for continued care closer to home.