NICU Care Brochure - The Chester County Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the CHOP Connection NICU located at The Chester County Hospital?
The Unit is located on the second floor of the Hospital’s North Pavilion in the same wing as the
Maternity Unit. Please enter through the Hospital’s main entrance and take the lobby
elevators to the second floor during regular hospital hours. After hours or during emergency
situations, enter through the Emergency Department.
Can I stay with my baby?
Parents may visit any time, except during the nursing change of shifts, to ensure confidentiality
for all families. Our Neonatal team encourages parents to spend as much time as possible with
their baby and to participate in his/her care. A separate breastfeeding room is available in the
Unit. Lactation Consultants are available to provide assistance. The NICU also includes a
Parent Participation Room, which is available for an overnight stay just prior to discharge to
bond and learn baby care.
What does the “Level III” certification mean?
Neonatal intensive care units are rated in four categories. Level I treats well newborn infants
only; Level II treats moderately ill babies; Level III provides care for the most complex and
severely ill newborns; and Level IV performs heart and lung surgery. As the only Level III in the
County, The Chester County Hospital has the highest ranked level in the County and receives
many newborns transferred to our care.
Who will take care of my child?
Your child will be assignment a primary physician for his/her stay. Although all of the
neonatalogists and nurses will be involved in the day-to-day care, the primary physician will
be responsible for scheduling periodic conferences with you to review your baby’s course,
make decisions for further treatment, as well as a plan for discharge.
PHYSICIANS
All attending physicians at CHOP Connection are currently on staff at The Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia’s Division of Neonatalogy. They are board certified in pediatrics and neonatalperinatal
medicine and certified in neonatal resuscitation (NRP). CHOP Connection doctors also
have direct access to the full staff of pediatric specialists and neonatalogists at Children’s Hospital
for consultations. Depending on the length of stay, your child may see more than one member of
the CHOP Connection physician team while hospitalized.
NURSE PRACTITIONERS
Neonatal nurse practitioners at The Chester County Hospital are registered nurses with
advanced clinical experience in neonatal nursing. They have received formal education,
typically a graduate degree, and are experienced in the management of sick newborns and
their families under the supervision of a neonatalogist. In addition, they are NRP certified. There
is always a nurse practitioner or neonatalogist in the nursery 24/7 with a second clinician on call.