Neonatal intensive care (NICU)

Studer Family Children’s Hospital has the region’s only Level III NICU – delivering advanced care for preterm and critically sick babies.

TRANSFER A PATIENT
Newborn at the Level III NICU at Studer Family Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.

Level III NICU at Studer Family Children’s Hospital

Doctors and critical care teams at Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart in Northwest Florida deliver advanced care for even the smallest and most fragile patients. As a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), we provide advanced care for critically ill newborns and those born prematurely. From our NICU, we provide on-site consultation and care from 30 different pediatric specialties.

Advanced care for premature and ill newborns

Doctors and care teams at our NICU take the time to explain your child’s diagnosis and answer all your questions – big and small. Your child’s NICU care team works with your child’s specialists in a multidisciplinary approach to create a care plan that’s right for your child and family. If your child needs surgery, have confidence knowing Studer Family Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric hospital with the most advanced NICU, a trauma center, and leading surgery for children in Pensacola.

In the NICU, our doctors have the expertise to diagnose, treat and manage even the most complex conditions, including:

  • Bladder outlet obstruction (blockage in the bladder)
  • Brain injury
  • Congenital heart diseases
  • Congenital malformations
  • Diaphragmatic hernia
  • Esophageal atresia
  • Feeding difficulty
  • Genetic disorders
  • Genital anomalies
  • Hydrops (fluid build-up or swelling)
  • Infections
  • Jaundice
  • Metabolic disorders
  • NAS (withdrawal of opiates)
  • Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
  • Prematurity (extreme prematurity)
  • Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)
  • Seizures
  • Stroke

Family-centered care for critically sick newborns

Father holding his infant child's hand in a hospital room.At Studer Family Children’s Hospital, our care teams provide a comfortable environment for your baby and family. And our NICU is designed to give each baby and family their own hospital room. Having private rooms can decrease stimulation and stress, and can help promote bonding between your baby and family. Your NICU care team keeps you and your family involved in your child’s care. You are encouraged to attend medical rounds and participate in your child’s neonatal care as much as possible.

Supportive care, including care for emotional and spiritual health, is available to your family. Social workers and chaplains are also part of your family’s care team. Together, we deliver care that supports your family. Talk with your child’s care team if you have questions or concerns. We can connect you with other care and services you may need.

Multidisciplinary care team

Our care team at Studer Family Children’s Hospital collaborates to deliver advanced care for premature and critically ill newborns.

Your family’s care team may include:

  • Cardiologists
  • Lactation consultants
  • Language interpreters
  • Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
  • Neonatologists
  • Neonatal nurse practitioners
  • Neonatal nurses
  • Neurologists
  • Occupational, physical and speech therapists
  • Pharmacists
  • Registered dietitians
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Social workers
  • Surgeons
  • Other pediatric specialists

Transfer a patient to the NICU at Studer Family Children’s Hospital

The NICU at Studer Family Children’s Hospital provides care for babies throughout Northwest Florida. We have a dedicated neonatal transport team to bring critically ill babies directly to a higher level of care – whether by ambulance, helicopter or plane. Led by a neonatologist, our neonatal transport team has the specialized skills and advanced technology needed to care for babies while they are being transported.

To transfer a patient to the NICU at Studer Family Children’s Hospital, call 866-512-2244.

Neonatal intensive care (NICU)