Neonatal Intensive Care
You never expect to need a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) when you’re expecting. As a new parent, you may feel overwhelmed by having a baby in the NICU. Rest assured, your little one will receive the best care possible at Avera.
Advanced Technology & Compassionate Care
Benefit from individualized care for newborns born prematurely or with health issues that need special attention.
Avera Children’s Hospital NICU
Avera’s 42-bed, neonatal intensive care unit at Avera Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, meets American Academy of Pediatrics criteria as a Level IIIB NICU. That means your baby receives exceptional care from our skilled neonatologists, the expert physicians who care for newborns as they thrive and grow in a quiet and private room.
Avera board-certified physicians provide excellent care for your high-risk infant with the latest in technology, including:
- Advanced imaging
- Bedside laboratory testing
- Hemodynamic monitoring
- Neonatal surgery
- Neonatal transport via helicopter, fixed wing aircraft and ground vehicles
- Radiant warmers, omni beds and isolettes
- Specialized ventilation care
- Total body coolers
As you recover from labor and delivery, you can relax knowing your newborn is receiving the best care possible. As a participant in the Vermont Oxford Database, the Avera Children’s Hospital NICU shows excellent outcomes in all categories, with a length of stay much shorter than the national average.
Expert Care for Newborns
Your newborn receives care from our highly trained staff and integrated team of specialists who hold advanced training in caring for high-risk infants. Your care team may include:
- Fellowship-trained neonatologists
- Pediatric subspecialists
- Neonatal nurse practitioners with special education and training for NICU care
- Physical, respiratory, occupational and speech therapists
- Neonatal nutrition support specialists
- Lactation consultants
- Social services and case management experts
Family-Centered NICU Care
Discover a family-friendly environment that welcomes parents and siblings to visit your newborn. Additional features may include:
- Computers for family use
- The Mothers Nest, a homelike area where moms can stay with their babies in the NICU
- Support for breastfeeding – Join the 90 percent of Avera NICU graduates who breastfeed at discharge
CareView Connects the Avera Region
No matter which Avera location you choose for birthing, you’ll find peace of mind knowing you have access to remote NICU monitoring and 24/7 nursing support through Avera CareView.
This advanced technology allows you and your physician to benefit from telemedicine consultations with Avera's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) teams. Take advantage of CareView benefits, such as:
- Immediate access to pediatric intensivists and neonatologists who work together to quickly stabilize infants and assist with transfers
- 24/7 nursing support
CareView reaches throughout the Avera region in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.
Learn more about children’s health services at Avera.
