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The Henry Zarrow Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis – previously known as the Eastern Oklahoma Perinatal Center (EOPC) – has been the site of life-saving services and miraculous recoveries since 1978. Servicing approximately 850 newborns and their families annually, the NICU is a regional center of care for Oklahoma and neighboring states.
In November 2009, the NICU was relocated on the 5th floor of The Children’s Hospital. Our 30,000 square foot unit has 58 beds – 38 private rooms, 6 semi-private/twin rooms and an 8 bed stabilization unit located near the Labor and Delivery and Newborn Nursery areas. The NICU takes great pride in receiving a Level III D distinction from the American Academy of Pediatrics - the highest rating available to an NICU. Neonatology services are provided by ten board-certified neonatologists which offer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in-house coverage.
Hopefully, we will never meet. However, if your ill baby needs state-of-the-art care from a top-notch team of caregivers, we are here for you. Your bundle of joy that arrives prematurely or with a serious medical condition will receive the best possible chance for a normal, healthy life in our NICU at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis.
The NICU is a regional neonatal intensive care unit with services specifically designed for babies born with special care needs. Whether your baby is born at Saint Francis Hospital or is transported from a surrounding hospital by our trained neonatal team, he or she will receive the most technologically advanced medical care available in this special unit.
The NICU Staff
The NICU staff is made up of a variety of healthcare professionals. This team consists of board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, pediatric and family practice residents from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Oklahoma State University Health Science Center.
Numerous board-certified pediatric specialists assist in providing the very best care for your baby, as needed. These include pediatric surgeons, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, neurologists, genetists, and opthalmologists. Your obstetrician and/or perinatologist is always welcome to visit the unit to check on the progress of your baby.
The social worker and case managers are important support personnel for our families with hospitalized babies in the NICU. Social workers are skilled in counseling you and your family and can be resourceful in helping with lodging requests and arranging conferences with your baby’s care team. The case manager can assist in addressing financial concerns and make arrangements for any further home care needs.
In addition to the more than 90 nurses working in the NICU, the unit management staff, respiratory therapists, discharge coordinators, lactation consultants, dietician and other support personnel help to provide the comprehensive care critically ill babies need.
Special Services
Babies with severe lung disease can often benefit from the therapies of Inhaled Nitric Oxide (INO) or Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO is an innovative life support therapy. The ECMO program at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis is one of only two programs available in Oklahoma and one of few in the United States. The ECMO system temporarily breathes and pumps blood for the baby allowing the lungs to rest and heal.
The Whole Body Hypothermia program offers a chance for critically compromised babies to improve their risk of survival or disability by decreasing the demands on the body while the brain rests and responds to other interventions.
Apnea Intervention Monitoring Program (AIM) is available for infants who have had interruptions in breathing. A neonatologist supervises the sleep studies used to develop appropriate treatment plans and consults with your pediatrician regarding the findings. If a home monitor is required, special training, will prepare you for using the equipment.
“TLC” and Much, Much More
We offer technology at its finest. But we know that “TLC” can be just as important as the medical care we give. Your baby and family will receive care beyond the medical boundaries in a caring, family-centered atmosphere. We designed our new NICU with your family and the developmental needs of your baby in mind. Private rooms with adjustable, subdued lighting, a sleeping area and breastfeeding/pumping area are features of each of our rooms. As your baby’s status allows, you will be encouraged to hold and progress to diapering, feeding and bathing of your baby. We want you to get to know your baby and be involved. The entire staff is eager to help you and address any questions you may have.
You are welcome to bring personal clothing, blankets and small toys for your baby. Please do not bring any item of monetary or emotional value, as we can not guarantee against loss or breakage possibilities.
Taking a newborn home brings on feelings of excitement and often some anxiety especially if that baby was hospitalized due to illness. You will have opportunity to “practice” caring for your new baby with our staff just steps away before going home. Our staff works closely with parents to ease this transition by providing educational information and one-on-one discharge teaching by our discharge coordinators. Always know, we have your little one and your best interests at heart.
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