| Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: (210) 358-1593 The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a 30,000 square foot facility located on the 5th floor of University Hospital, San Antonio's only health system recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's Best Hospitals. University Hospital serves the general Bexar County, south central Texas area population, and referred private patients of the Health Science Center faculty. The NICU has 32 beds for Level III care (intensive care) and 24 beds for Level II care (intermediate care). Over 3,000 newborns are admitted annually to the University Hospital, including 600 admissions to the NICU. On a daily basis, the NICU includes 16 Level III infants and 14 Level II infants. Patient care is enhanced by NICU support facilities located directly next to NICU patient care areas. These adjacent support facilities include: - Offices for neonatologists, fellows, residents, nurse practitioners, and nursing staff
- A pharmacy that is staffed during daytime hours by a pharmacist experienced in neonatal pharmacology
- Computerized bedside medical charting or Complete EMR - Electronic Medical Record
- A dedicated clinical laboratory staffed by technicians around the clock performing blood gas determinations, glucose, bilirubin, hematocrit, and fetal scalp pH measurements
- Equipment for obtaining and reviewing digital portable radiographs
- A private x-ray conference room where a computer terminal and file of radiographs of patients are kept
- Respiratory Therapist in the unit 24/7
- Procedure room for surgery and/or isolation
- Conference and parent education rooms
- Parent/infant rooms where parents can "room in" with their baby in anticipation of/prior to discharge
Level III care is provided for premature babies, infants of diabetic mothers, newborns with birth defects, post-surgical cases, and other categories of infants requiring intensive nursing care or a higher level of observation for unstable or at-risk conditions. Level II care is provided for growing premature infants, infants withdrawing from intrauterine drug exposure, and other conditions requiring specialized nursing care. |
