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State-of-the-art. The NICU at The Children's
Hospital is a Level III unit. That designation means that
the unit offers the highest level of neonatal care. The 17-bed
unit is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology, specially
developed to care for newborns with complex medical problems.
Specialty care is available for babies born prematurely and
who have birth defects, inherited metabolic disorders, congenital
malformations or heart disease, infections, neurologic problems,
gastrointestinal and hematologic disorders. The unit admits
infants from any community hospital, as well as The Cleveland
Clinic.
Staffed by specialists. Board-certified neonatologists
and nursing specialists work as a team with pediatric developmental
and other specialists, lactation experts, psychologists, pediatric
physical and occupational therapists, and speech pathologists.
This team approach ensures that each patient and family receives
comprehensive care.
Developmental care. Infants respond differently
to the type of care and stimulation they receive in a NICU
setting. At The Children's Hospital, the NICU team uses stress
assessments as a basis for modifying a baby's environment
and treatment strategies. No "routine" procedures
are performed on the unit; room lighting, sound and the frequency
and timing of medical/nursing care are all adapted to suit
each infant's needs. Studies have shown that developmental
care has many positive effects on babies, from reducing the
amount of time an infant needs assisted ventilation to accelerating
weight gain.
Family-centered. Family-friendly amenities help
make this new facility comfortable and pleasant. Parents have
24-hour visitation and are encouraged to attend medical rounds
and other meetings concerning their baby's progress. Siblings
aged 3 and older may visit any time following a health screening
by a registered nurse. Using a transition room, parents have
the opportunity to "room in" with their baby prior
to discharge. This allows parents to get comfortable caring
for their new baby.
"Graduates" of neonatal intensive
care may experience a range of medical and developmental disorders
resulting from premature birth or complications from their
illness. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit's Follow-Up Program
can address the long-term needs of these children and their
families.
In addition, The Cleveland Clinic Children's
Hospital for Rehabilitation (formerly Health Hill Hospital)
provides intensive therapy and complex medical monitoring
for children born prematurely through its inpatient program.
The only freestanding pediatric rehabilitation hospital in
Ohio-and one of only a few of its kind in the nation- the
Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation offers a number of
specialty programs, including the Center for Autism, treatment
for feeding disorders, an innovative motor control program,
pediatric kidney dialysis (opening 2003), and specialized
foster care. Pediatric outpatient therapy also is available
at four convenient locations.
Ronald
Holtzman, M.D.
Vladimir
Burdjalov, M.D.
Marita
D'Netto, M.D.
Douglas
Powell, M.D.
Craig
H. Raskind, M.D.
Jeffery
Schwersenski, M.D.
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