During your infant's stay in the NICU, a team of specialists in newborn medicine will care for your baby, together with your private pediatrician or family doctor (the physician you have chosen to oversee the health care of your child throughout childhood and adolescence). St. John's Mercy Medical Center's NICU team is dedicated to providing quality care for all of your baby's and your family's special needs.

The Members of the Neonatal Health Care Team:

The private pediatrician or family physician: Your baby's physician maintains close communication with the NICU staff and works very closely with the staff around the time of your baby's discharge to make the transition from NICU to outpatient care as smooth as possible.

The neonatologist: A neonatologist is a physician who specializes in the care and treatment of newborns, particularly ill or premature newborns. The NICU has 24-hour, in-hospital coverage by a neonatologist. (Other pediatric specialists, such as a heart specialist or pediatric surgeon, may see your baby, depending on your baby's needs.)

The neonatal nurse practitioner: The nurse practitioner is a registered nurse, experienced in neonatal intensive care nursing, who has completed additional formal training in the diagnosis and treatment of illness that may affect the baby.

The nursing staff: More than 100 registered nurses work in the NICU - all of them are specially educated in the care of premature infants and sick newborns. The nursing staff provides continuous, 24-hour care to your baby and is available to answer any questions you may have.

The NICU secretaries: The unit secretaries work at the unit's front desk. The secretaries will assist you when you call the NICU and are available to help you with non-medical questions.

The respiratory therapist: The respiratory therapist works in collaboration with the physicians, the neonatal nurse practitioners and the nurses to help your baby breathe more easily. The therapist operates a wide variety of equipment, including breathing machines, oxygen and other special devices to assist babies with breathing problems.

The transport team: The NICU transport team consists of specially trained registered nurses and respiratory therapists who trans-port your baby to and from various tests and procedures within the hospital. The transport team also transports infants who are transferred to St. John's Mercy by ambulance or helicopter.

The family support coordinator: The family support coordinator is a registered nurse who is available to assist with family educational resources as well as to provide emotional support as facilitator of the NICU parent support group, the NICU sibling class, and the NICUP volunteer support parent program.

The Lactation Consultants: A lactation consultant is an experienced nursing professional who has the training, skills, and knowledge necessary to facilitate breastfeeding.

The clinical pharmacist: The pharmacist works with the NICU team to assess medication needs and doses, and adjusts preparations designed for older patients to meet the specific needs of NICU babies. The pharmacist helps all of the members of the NICU team with their work as it relates to using medications and can answer questions from parents about medications.

The care coordinators: Care coordinators are available to help you and your family deal with financial, social and emotional problems that relate to your baby's hospitalization. Members of the department can work with you and your family in dealing with the impact of illness or injury by providing counseling information, community resources and/or preparation for your baby's homecoming.

The NICU Parents (NICUPs): This volunteer group is composed of parents who have had a premature or high-risk baby in the NICU at
St. John's Mercy. These "graduate" parents are available to offer emotional support and non-medical information to help meet your needs at any time during or after your baby's hospitalization.

The chaplain: NICU chaplains are professionals specially educated to provide spiritual and emotional support to families with a premature or high-risk baby. Available 24 hours a day, a chaplain can contact your church community, minister or rabbi, and can assist you with your requests concerning prayer, sacraments and other spiritual needs. Respecting all beliefs, a chaplain provides care and support to people of any faith, religion or spiritual tradition.

The occupational and physical therapists: Sometimes referred to as OTs and PTs, these therapists are specially trained professionals who evaluate and treat children with neurodevelopmental problems, feeding difficulties, strength or movement abnormalities or, developmental delays. The therapists conduct a routine baseline evaluation for the NICU Follow-up Program and may recommend a treatment program for your baby including feeding methods, positioning, splinting, massaging and exercise techniques.

© 2008 St. John's Mercy Health Care
615 S. New Ballas Rd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63141