Scope of Service

Overview:

• Size of the unit: The NICU is licensed for 45 beds, 32 are located on the North Pavilion 4th floor, with 13 beds located on the third floor.
• Source of the patients: Neonates are either admitted from the labor and delivery unit in-house or transferred from a hospital within the referral region by our transport team. A small percentage are direct admits from physician offices. A small percent are admits from the ER.

Types and Ages of Patients Served:

• Primary Population The unit offers patient care services 24 hours a day to high risk neonates and to infants whose needs cannot be met in the normal newborn nursery.
• General age of your population. Newborn to 3 months of age.

Description of Internal and External Customers:

Internal customers served include other nursing units, physicians, patients, families, and all ancillary departments of the hospital. External customers we serve include, but are not limited to: home health care services, area rehabilitation facilities, medical supply companies, other contracted medical service companies, outlying hospitals, and the local community.

NICU responds to emergencies and functions as a consultant in the labor and delivery area provides assessment and immediate care to newborns post delivery needing closer observation, and attends all C-sections and high-risk deliveries. NICU provides regional referral and transport of critically ill infants from a nine county region.

The Southwest Michigan Neonatology practice is the primary physician group for the NICU. All pediatricians and General Practitioners who provide newborn care at Bronson may also admit newborns to the NICU.

The pediatric sub specialist physicians provide services to NICU patients when consulted.

Conditions and Diagnosis Treated:

Conditions treated on the unit may include, but are not limited to: Extreme prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, hypoglycemia, congenital anomalies, seizures, newborns requiring immediate surgical intervention, and meconium aspiration syndrome.

Types of Services & Care Provided:

Services provided include: Nurses assist in performing bedside procedures that include peripheral IV insertion, septic workups, intubations, percutaneous catheter insertions, parenteral therapy, blood and blood products administration, bronchopulmonary hygiene, medication administration, monitoring of vital signs and parent teaching.

The nursing staff is provided by a team consisting of: Direct patient care is provided by RNs or Patient Care Technicians under the direct supervision of the RN staff.

The medical care for the patient is provided by: Five Neonatologists, who share the 24-hour coverage, direct the medical care of the unit. One of the Neonatologists serves as the medical director and is responsible for implementation of policies and procedures as well as quality improvement activities. There are Neonatal Nurse Practitioners that provide coverage in the unit and are supervised by the on-call attending Neonatologist. Pediatricians and general practitioners who provide newborn care in the hospital also admit infants to the NICU.

Other multi-disciplinary team members involved in the care of the patient include: respiratory care, pharmacy, laboratory, purchasing/materials management, and radiology. Other integral roles in the functioning of the unit are two case managers, a full-time social worker, a part-time dietician, a full-time Developmental Specialist, and an outcomes coordinator.

Sites Where Services & Care is Provided:

Most diagnostic services are provided at the bedside. They include: Lab draws, lumbar punctures, bladder taps, portable x-rays, EKG’s, pulse oximetry treatments, echocardiograms, EEGs and PT/OT functions. For other tests, such as CT, MRI, invasive radiologic exams, patients are transported to the Radiology Department. Nursing staff and various multidisciplinary team members as appropriate escort the patients. Other treatments and procedures performed at the bedside include, but are not limited to: surgical ligation of the patent ductus arteriosis, insertion of central lines, insertion of chest tubes, aspiration of a pneumothorax or kylothorax cardioversion of a baby in SVTs, laser surgery,

Times When Services & Care is Provided:

Care is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.