NICU

Our dedicated team of physicians and nurses specializes in managing babies born extremely premature and/or with extremely low birth weight. The care begins prior to delivery to optimize the best possible outcomes with meticulous clinical management addressing needs along the entire NICU stay, from the first minutes of life to discharge planning. Our comprehensive care strategy and experience ensures optimal outcomes, surpassing national and international benchmarks for very low birthweight infant survival rates.

Equipped with expertise in Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) and hemodynamics, our physicians deliver prompt, targeted care to critically ill neonates, facilitating immediate diagnosis and intervention without delay.

Recognizing the critical importance of early intervention, we prioritize neurodevelopmental care from birth, particularly for premature infants and those at risk of brain oxygen deprivation during pregnancy or delivery. With a multidisciplinary team comprising neurodevelopmental neonatologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, we empower parents to actively participate in their child's care, fostering improved neurodevelopmental outcomes through tailored interventions and always encouraging bonding through skin-to-skin care.

We collaborate closely with Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute and serve as a center for navigated patients with a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). We are the only NICU in south Florida that has a pediatric cardiac intensivist who is a double board-certified neonatologist and pediatric cardiologist caring for babies with all types of congenital heart disease. With a close collaboration with the Nicklaus Children’s pediatric cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons the care of the often complex clinical needs of neonates with congenital heart disease is seamless.

We are also a referral center for premature neonates with congenital heart disease with our highly experienced and specialized neonatal cardiac team we optimize all aspects of care by focusing on lung health, lung and heart interactions, optimal nutrition and neurodevelopment optimizing chances of a successful outcome.

With compassion and expertise, our neonatal palliative care team provides guidance and support to families facing the diagnosis of lethal diseases or congenital anomalies. Our focus on creating a peaceful, supportive environment enables families to cherish precious moments with their infants under expert guidance.

We are a regional referral center for complex Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) or chronic lung disease associated with prematurity. We actively participate in the only international BPD collaborative and are actively involved in clinical management discussions as well as current research.

Our expertise extends to the forefront of clinical management, bolstered by access to state-of-the-art ventilators, including NAVA technology which can be beneficial in patients with BPD. We also have a special focus and expertise on pulmonary hypertension secondary of BPD. We base weaning the ventilator and need for tracheostomy on a score assessing the tolerance of age-appropriate physical demand.

Complementing our chronic lung program, we have a highly successful chronic lung disease prevention program aimed at reducing the risk of chronic lung disease in premature infants. Our exceptional outcomes of lower than expected rate of chronic lung disease in out inborn premature underscore our commitment to providing top-tier lung care.

Ensuring optimal nutrition is paramount for the growth, development, and overall well-being of newborns, particularly premature infants. At our facility, we prioritize a comprehensive approach to nutrition, setting us apart as leaders in neonatal care.

We are staunch advocates of breast milk feeding, recognizing its unparalleled benefits for neonatal health. In instances where mothers are unable to provide sufficient breast milk, we seamlessly integrate donor breast milk into our care protocols. This commitment results in an impressive 99% of premature neonates in our care receiving the invaluable nourishment of breast milk, supplemented with human milk-based fortifiers when necessary.

This focus on breast milk feeding not only fosters optimal health but also supports crucial aspects of early development, including brain growth and the maturation of vital organs such as the lungs. Our standardized approach to feeding advancement ensures that each infant receives tailored nutrition throughout their NICU journey, combining breast milk with precisely calibrated intravenous nutrition when needed. This meticulous approach delivers essential proteins, carbohydrates, fats, trace minerals, and vitamins at every stage of development, promoting optimal growth and mitigating complications associated with prematurity.

By prioritizing optimal nutrition and leveraging a standardized approach rooted in best practices, we stand apart as pioneers in neonatal care. We are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for every infant entrusted to our care.

Pioneers in neonatal education, we host the world's most respected and diverse NICU-specific educational podcast, "The Incubator," reaching thousands of neonatologists globally. Our involvement in leading conferences and collaborations with top institutions nationally and internationally underscores our dedication to advancing the field of neonatology and enriching patient care by bringing cutting-edge research and expertise to the bedside. We also host the popular Delphi Neonatal Innovation conference which is visited by neonatal healthcare providers from all over the world sharing their passion for advancing the field of neonatology.

Driven by our commitment to excellence, our structured, standardized clinical care ensures that every patient receives optimal, evidence based personalized treatment. Led by a national leader in NICU quality and safety, our program emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration to make informed treatment decisions, safeguarding the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Our hospital’s neonatal transport team works with various services to bring babies from hundreds of miles away via ground and air ambulances.

Our hospital facilities are always prepared to handle any emergency situation, including the transportation of our tiniest patients.

At the heart of our approach lies a deep commitment to family-centered care. We view parents and caregivers as invaluable partners in the care journey, promoting unrestricted visitation and encouraging skin-to-skin contact to enhance bonding and improve outcomes for both infants and families.

Our neonatal care team works with our prenatal care program to educate expecting families about healthy lifestyle choices to minimize health concerns for newborn babies.

The staff at our NICU wants parents to feel confident caring for their baby at home. We hold baby care classes once a week for families with babies in the NICU. These classes, led by nurses certified in teaching infant CPR, help parents feel more comfortable when they take their baby home.

As your baby's health improves, we encourage mothers to provide breast or bottle feedings. A baby in the NICU may not be able to breastfeed immediately, so we encourage parents to be patient until your child is well enough to feed. Women who plan to breastfeed can store their pumped breast milk and colostrum in an on-site freezer until it’s needed.

Our hospital also features a lactation center. Lactation consultants are available to work with new moms one-on-one, offering breastfeeding classes before delivery. Upon request, they will also meet with new moms after delivery.