The Special Care Unit for Premature Babies and Neonates treats about 300 neonates a year in average.
These are babies born less than 2000 grams or neonates suffering from special problems.
The neonates and their parents have a skilled staff of doctors and nurses at their dispense, innovative medical equipment and a new and spacious ward. The staff consists of four doctors who specialize in pediatrics and neonatology (an expertise dealing with neonates and premature babies) and about 30 nurses, who are experts of neonates and premature babies intensive care.
Before the birth, teams of obstetricians and neonatologists hold consults to discuss the optimal care for the mother and baby in risk of premature labor. A representative of the neonates doctors holds an acquaintance talk with the future parents and provides them with explanations about premature babies. Parents can choose to visit the ward in preparation for the expected premature delivery.
After birth, the neonate mostly stays in the intensive care zone of the ward, until his condition stabilizes.
When his condition stabilizes, he is transferred to the “pension” area of the ward, until he is discharged.
The length of the baby’s stay in the various areas of the ward changes according to the birth weight, the gestational age and other conditions which develop during the admittance time. Neonates who are admitted to the unit and their parents enjoy the services of expert advisors of pediatric diseases in all areas: genetics, surgery, orthopedics, neurology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, nephrology, eyes, skin and others. This is in addition to the services of the diagnostic units: the imaging institute, the auditory and speech institute, the physical therapy institute, a nutritionist, a speech therapist and the labs.
The unit’s social worker escorts the families in receiving the neonate. Towards the discharge, she guides the parents regarding their social privileges and their therapeutic options in the community, should those be necessary.
After discharge, the follow up after the recovery of the neonates, suffering from special problems, is done in cooperation with the neonatologists, the children neurologist and a physical therapist who diagnose and track the psycho-motor development of the neonates who need it. The follow up is done as a hospital outpatient.
