Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Our Approach
At Kadlec Regional Medical Center, we recognize every baby’s birth as a miraculous event. Our team is ready to celebrate this happy and momentous time with you – and we’re prepared for any unique needs that may arise.
We’re the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Tri-Cities region, so we’re equipped to provide specialized care for newborns who require extra attention. Our team supports your family through this journey, ensuring your baby receives the best possible care while keeping you involved every step of the way.
Our NICU provides exceptional care to keep all babies safe and healthy – from the most premature infants to full-term infants who need minimal intervention.
We treat high-risk babies that weigh between one to 13 pounds, providing specialized care close to home. We offer the most advanced neonatal respiratory support and house the region’s only Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia program. If your baby doesn’t receive the oxygen they need at birth, we’re able to cool their body temperature in a specialized unit to reduce the effects of brain injury.
Should your baby require the next level of care, we collaborate closely with Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital to ensure seamless transitions and comprehensive support.
We designed our top-tier medical facility to accommodate the needs of both infants and their loved ones in a nurturing and peaceful environment.
NICU services and features include:
- 24-hour visitation
- 27 private patient rooms with:
- Breast pumps and breastmilk storage
- Comfortable sleeping chairs or couches
- Individual room lighting controls and privacy options
- Education and lactation support
- Family Haven, a tranquil space to recharge and relax
- Private spaces for consultation with doctors
- A family sleep room you can reserve for overnight stays
Our partnership with Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital means your baby’s care team includes highly trained specialists with a wide range of expertise. This diverse group works together to create personalized care plans tailored to the unique needs of your baby.
Your team may include:
- Case managers
- Dietitians
- Genetic counselors
- Lactation nurses
- Neonatal nurse practitioners
- Neonatologists
- Neonatal trained respiratory therapists
- NICU techs
- Occupational, speech and physical therapists
- Pediatric and neonatal pharmacists
- Registered nurses with specialty certifications
- Trained cuddlers
We understand that being in the NICU is an emotional journey. Our team is here to support you and offer resources, including:
- Access to our hospital chaplain
- Bereavement programs
- Connection to online community support platforms, including the Kadlec Support Group for NICU Families Facebook group
- The Cuddler Program, which provides soothing support to your baby when you can’t be present
- Group discussions led by NICU nurses on topics such as self-care and infant development
- Information and emotional encouragement
- Parent support groups
Frequently Asked Questions
The average NICU stay can range from a few hours to more than three months.
The length of your baby’s stay in the NICU depends on many factors, like if they’re born early, how much they weigh, their specific condition and more.
The NICU is open 24 hours a day, and we encourage you to visit your baby as often as you can.
The best times to visit are during:
- Daily rounds: At 11 a.m. every day, your baby’s health team discusses your baby’s current status, progress and the plan for the day.
- Scheduled hands-on care: Babies in the NICU usually have care and feeding time every three hours. You can ask your nurse about your baby’s schedule, so you can hold your baby, change their diaper and feed them during your visit. Between care times, it’s important to let your baby sleep undisturbed.
Yes, there is space in each NICU room for one caregiver to sleep at their baby’s bedside. We also have a separate sleep room that you can reserve.
You don’t need to bring much while your baby is in the NICU. If you plan to stay overnight, please bring:
- Breast pump tubing
- Food or money to make purchases from the deli or cafeteria
- Toiletries
We provide:
- A breast pump, storage bottles or bags and labels for milk storage
- Linens, including pillows
- Shower facility and towels
During your first visit to the NICU, you’ll use the phone at the main entrance to let us know you’re here to see your baby.
For future visits, you’ll have a badge that you can scan to enter. The same badge also gives you access to the Family Haven.
To help protect your baby’s health, please follow our visitor guidelines:
- Don’t visit the NICU if you have cold symptoms.
- If you have a fever of 100°F or higher, don’t visit your baby until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.
- Follow all hand washing guidelines; do a three-minute scrub every time you enter the NICU or at least once every 24 hours.
- Always use the bedside hand sanitizer before and after touching your baby or when you’ve used your cell phone.
- Use the bedside purple wipes to clean your cell phone before using it.
The Family Haven provides you with a place to step outside the NICU while still staying close to your baby.
Within the Family Haven, you can:
- Recharge and relax
- Store food in the fridge, use the microwave and enjoy meals
- Use the computer, which has internet access and links to some of our favorite NICU resources
We do ask that you avoid sleeping or napping in this area.
If you have questions or concerns about your baby’s care, please call the NICU directly and ask to be transferred to your baby’s nurse. You’ll need to provide your badge number.
You can also visit during daily rounds when all the members of your baby’s care team are available to answer questions.
If you still have questions and concerns, we have patient advocates who can help.