NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)

At Brenner Children’s Hospital, families not only receive state-of-the-art care, they are provided a plethora of resources and programs readily available to them both inside the hospital walls and in their homes. One of our latest state of the art care center is the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).

The NICU at Brenner Children’s Hospital is staffed with nurses highly-trained in specialized areas of neonatal medicine. Diane Hudson Barr, Ph.D., is a registered nurse with expertise in pain management. She recognizes when a baby is in pain and works to make each patient more comfortable during their stay.  

In addition to a highly-qualified staff, the NICU is equipped with technology to help infants breathe easier and keep their vital signs within normal limits.   

“Two of the most common problems a premature infant faces are respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary hypertension,” said Steven Block, M.D., a neonatologist and Director of Brenner Children’s Hospital’s NICU. “Over 40 percent of infants transferred to the NICU will experience breathing difficulties. Our NICU unit is equipped with unique ventilators – the only ones of their kind in this region -- to help support a baby’s breathing. As the babies’ health improves, their lungs become more pliable. These specialized ventilators detect the changes and adjust to provide a more gentle flow. The machines help us avoid over inflating the lungs and damaging them.”

Learn more about the NICU at the Brenner Children’s Hospital web site.

NICU