An Unhealthy Prenatal Diagnosis: How Arkansas Children's NICU Helps Your Baby

It can be scary to receive a prenatal diagnosis of a serious problem for your child. Experts in the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the only Level 4 NICU in the state, give 24/7 care for complex conditions and provide specially trained transport through Angel One.

How does my baby get transferred to the NICU?   

Expectant parents are counseled on what to expect before their baby arrives at the NICU. Babies are transported via the Angel One Patient Transport System. Angel One has seven vehicles, including five ground ambulances and two Sikorsky S-76D helicopters. Anyone in the state can be reached within 55 minutes. The transport team brings more than 90% of NICU babies from in-state or out-of-state, including Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Missouri.   

Here is what to expect should your newborn need to be transported to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital NICU from either in-state or out-of-state:   

• The transport team – which includes a nurse, respiratory therapist and the driver or pilot – train and work closely with NICU doctors to provide the best care while en route. Often, the team is dispatched early to either prepare or assist with delivery, mainly if a newborn is premature or needs resuscitation immediately following birth. The team stabilizes the newborn on the way to the hospital.   
• Throughout the transport process, the transport team is on the phone with NICU doctors, dubbed “Medical Control.” Sometimes, an extra nurse or NICU doctor may also travel in the transport. 

"It's helpful for families to know that our team is incredibly well-trained. This is not just the regular EMT service you would see with an ambulance out in the community,” said Misty Virmani, M.D., a neonatologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and associate professor of neonatology in the department of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). “This team is very specifically trained to take care of neonates and sick children, and even in some cases, take care of their mothers. We use that team to transport the moms who are close to delivery but safe to still be transported to UAMS for delivery.” 

Who is involved on the NICU care team? 

The ACH NICU cares for about 70 to 80 babies at a time. The team is equipped and staffed to deliver around-the-clock care.  

Here are key stats about the NICU:  

• More than 250 registered nurses, many nationally certified in neonatal intensive care nursing and lactation 
• 24/7 attending coverage by five care teams, each led by an attending physician; multidisciplinary team includes multiple licensed independent practitioners, nutritionist, pharmacist, social worker and physical, occupational, speech therapists and child life specialists 
• 70 specialized neonatal providers, including neonatologists, fellows, APRNs, physician assistants and hospitalist pediatricians 

What kind of care can I expect from the NICU? 

Each baby is cared for by a multidisciplinary team that can include a physician, nurse practitioner or pediatric resident, bedside nurse, nutritionist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, etc. This large team is intentional, meeting a vulnerable newborn's needs. Other aspects of NICU care that parents can expect include:   

• A dedicated nurse is at your baby's bedside, and neonatologists and advanced-level providers are in-house 24/7 
• Babies are cared for in one of nine pods, with eight beds available in a large room. For the most critical babies, there are two smaller pods. Parents can be at the baby's bedside as much as they want.   
• The NICU Family House is a respite for families that includes family services assistants, chair beds, lockers and showers, two sleeping spaces for adults, laundry and a kitchenette.   
• As babies progress in care and get closer to going home, there are private rooms for families to stay overnight and participate in their baby's daily care and needs. Parents learn about their baby’s medication, feeding and extra care needs. 
   
• Lactation consultants are available, along with a lactation room and several separate areas for NICU mothers to express their milk.  
• An onsite NICU milk lab prepares feedings. Formula, breast milk (also known as human milk) or a mixture of the two are prepared, sent to the bedside and given to the baby. Each day, NICU experts and dieticians evaluate how much each child will receive, adjust calories as needed and send those orders to the lab.