Neonatology

Neonatology at Riley Hospital for Children Indiana University Medical Center provides the most comprehensive care in the state for newborns and infants with medical or surgical problems. Children are cared for in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Riley Hospital for Children and in University Hospital's Special Care Nursery. Our philosophy of care is family-based, ensuring that the best care is provided in the warmest, most personal manner.

Our Specialists are On-call 24 hours a day.

All of our staff are dedicated to providing gentle, loving care for every baby. The Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Riley Hospital is staffed 24 hours a day by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and social workers who provide the most advanced care available. Other physician specialists in every area of pediatrics are also available around the clock. Riley's neonatologists (newborn specialists) and perinatologists (doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancies) work together with pediatric cardiologists, surgeons, neurologists, urologists, nurses and many others who are experts in the care of infants and children.

Largest and highest ranked neonatal intensive care unit in the State of Indiana

Our 79 bed unit is the largest in the State of Indiana. Riley's neonatal intensive care programs ranks among the top 10 programs in the U.S. by Child Magazine. No other Indiana hospitals neonatal intensive care programs made the national rankings.

Advanced Technologies Help Newborns Breathe

Premature and critically ill newborns often have respiratory problems, and we offer the most advanced technologies to treat them. Our doctors and researchers have helped develop several lifesaving treatments for newborns. Riley was the first hospital in Indiana to evaluate the use of surfactant therapy, which is now used routinely to treat breathing problems in premature babies. Our doctors also helped test and win federal approval for a technology called high frequency jet ventilation, which helps babies breathe without stressing the lungs. We provide two types of high frequency ventilation, as well as ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). ECMO functions as a heart and lung bypass machine for newborns, oxygenating the blood so the baby's heart and lungs can rest and heal.

At Riley, Your Family Comes First

When a baby must stay in the hospital, the whole family can feel the strain, emotionally and financially. We offer a number of support services to help parents know what to expect and to acquaint them with the people, surroundings and many support services at Riley. Each family receives a complete information notebook developed by the NICU staff and parents whose children have been cared for here. Parents are encouraged to talk with our staff about anything at any time, and to visit as much as possible. When parents do not live nearby, we talk with them frequently via a special toll-free telephone line. A Ronald McDonald House at IUMC offers rooms at a very low cost for parents of hospitalized children, and many other options for housing are available nearby.

Expert Care Continues as Your Baby Grows Up

Our care for newborns often begins even before the birth and continues long after the baby leaves the hospital. When potential problems are detected during pregnancy, our perinatologists and neonatologists work together with the mother's obstetrician to plan ahead for the baby's health. After the baby is born, we work with the family pediatrician or family doctor to arrange for any special care the baby may need at home. Our parent Care Unit lets parents practice caring for their baby before going home from the hospital. And our Newborn Follow-Up Clinic provides comprehensive, continuing care for babies who are at risk for developmental and neurological problems.

Emergency Transport Throughout Indiana

Many of the babies we care for are born in University Hospital at IUMC. However, critically ill infants and children throughout Indiana and neighboring states have prompt access to our specialized services via our Mobile Intensive Care Transport Units. Each intensive care ambulance is equipped with the latest technology and staffed by a pediatrician, nurse, and respiratory therapist trained in the care of critically ill children. This allows sick or injured infants and children to begin receiving lifesaving attention almost immediately in their local hospital and during their trip to Riley Hospital.

For Consultations or Referrals:

IMACS (Indiana Medical Access and Communication System) is a toll-free, direct line that gives you, the healthcare professional, and your office staff prompt access to IU faculty physicians for clinical consultations, patient referrals, patient information, or the latest research protocols. Simply call: (317) 916-3500 or 1-800-622-4989, or you can call the physicians office directly by phone (317) 274-4716 or fax (317) 274-2065.

In addition to connecting you with our clinical specialties, IMACS can connect you to: the Ruth Lilly Medical Library & Research Building; the IUPUI Medical Bookstore; the Clarian LifeLine Helicopter; the Newborn Intensive Care Vans and Continuing Medical Education. IMACS physician resource specialists are trained professionals who will expertly direct your call, even if you are not certain whom to ask for. Clarian Health Partners operates IMACS, and they follow detailed guidelines, established by our medical staff, to help you select the most appropriate person or area.

IMACS specialists will stay with you on the line until your call is complete to ensure you receive the information you need. They can transfer your call to a different area or help you make multiple contacts with just one call.

For routine consultations or referrals, please call IMACS Monday-Friday from 8am until 5:30pm. For emergency consultations or referrals, IMACS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Visit us at: http://www.neonatology.iupui.edu

[Keywords: newborns, infants, medical surgical problems, Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), neonatologists, perinatologists, high frequency jet ventilation, surfactant therapy, ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, premature newborn, critically ill newborn, neonate]