NICU
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides critical care to newborns who are ill or premature. Many factors may lead to a newborn being admitted to the NICU, including low birth weight or complications during delivery. The NICU staff works closely with parents to develop a treatment plan for their newborn.
Neonatal intensive care unit at Methodist Children's Hospital
When your newborn needs specialized treatment, our Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in San Antonio is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our board-certified neonatologists and nurse practitioners provide the highest level of care for our hospital's tiniest patients.
Expert, compassionate neonatal care
With 94 dedicated NICU beds, Methodist Children's Hospital is home to San Antonio's largest NICU. We were also the first NICU in San Antonio to receive Level IV NICU certification, which means we're able to provide expert care for all critically ill newborns, including those with the most complex conditions.
As part of our Level IV NICU certification, we also have more than 150 registered nurses who are trained in Level IV care. These nurses work alongside board-certified doctors and surgeons who specialize in treating babies born with life-threatening conditions.
Conditions treated in our NICU
As a Level IV NICU, our team can treat all types of high-risk conditions, including:
- Abdominal wall defects
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
- Congenital heart disease
- Neurological conditions, including open neural tube defects
- Premature birth (preemies), including micro-preemies
- Severe asphyxia
NICU services in San Antonio
In our NICU, your child is in capable, caring hands. We provide comprehensive services that meet the unique needs of high-risk infants, preemies and critically ill newborns.
Our NICU includes:
- 24/7 care with in-house, board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and lactation consultants
- A comprehensive team of pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists
- Bedside surgical procedures
- Genetic testing
- Neonatal teams available to help with high-risk deliveries
- Respiratory physicians for infants with rare congenital conditions
- Safe Sleep education
NICU specialists
Our NICU uses a multi-specialty approach, which means your child's care includes a variety of experts working together as a team. This approach helps make sure your child gets the most comprehensive and effective treatment.
Our NICU specialists include:
- Board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons
- Board-certified neonatologists
- Board-certified pediatric cardiologists
- Board-certified pediatric radiologists and pathologists
- Pulmonary specialists
Surgeries offered in our NICU
With one of the most experienced neonatal teams in the region, we provide expert surgical care for a range of conditions. Our board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons are a part of one of the largest pediatric congenital heart programs in the region.
Our NICU surgeons specialize in:
- Complex single ventricle repairs
- Mechanical support
- Minimally-invasive septal defect repairs
- Pediatric thoracic services, including chest wall reconstruction, mediastinal operations and broncho-pulmonary surgery
- Treatment of arrhythmia and heart failure
Specialty transport teams
To help make sure you and your child gets fast, effective care, Methodist Children's Hospital has neonatal and maternal/fetal transport teams. These teams include obstetricians and neonatologists who specialize in treating high-risk pregnancies and critically ill newborns.
Our state-of-the-art critical care transport stays in contact with Methodist Children's Hospital medical control at all times. Transport options include medical flights and ambulances.
Accreditations
- Level IV NICU certified
- United Healthcare Neonatal Center of Excellence
- Highest Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification, Gold Safe Sleep Champion
Visiting our NICU
Our NICU is located in the North Tower on the first floor of Methodist Hospital. Visitors may park in Garage 1 or use our valet service. We are a closed unit and visitors must have a badge to enter the unit.