If your baby needs extra care, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center offers highly specialized care and advanced technology with personalized attention and a compassionate touch.
Having a baby in the NICU can be a frightening and stressful experience. With an individualized approach to families and their needs, NICU professionals are dedicated to giving the support you need to get through this difficult time.
Our NICU serves as the central, northern, and eastern Maine referral center for premature and sick infants who require specialized care.
The health care professionals who are involved in your baby’s care include board certified neonatologist (a physician specially trained in the care of premature and sick newborns), neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and social workers. Our team also includes many pediatric surgical and medical sub specialists if your baby needs their expertise.
For critical newborns in outlying areas, we offer a 24-hour neonatal transport service. Our specially trained team travels to the referring hospital and transports the baby back to NICU. The special care your baby needs begins when our team arrives.
We are proud of the family centered care we provide in caring for the babies. We have an active Patient Advisory Group. This group is comprised of “graduate” parents who have experienced a newborn in the NICU working in partnership with our staff to foster family centered care. This partnership enhances communication between families and the staff.
Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) features:
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29 private family suites
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Level III Nursery: patient population ranges from 23 week gestation premature infants to term infants requiring the latest in intensive care technologies
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24 hour physician coverage
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24 hour neonatal transport team
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Developmental approach to care
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High frequency and volume ventilation for respiratory failure
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Nitric oxide for pulmonary hypertension
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Total body cooling for perinatal asphyxia