Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach is well known for providing life-saving care. It was featured in the book, “Baby E.R.: The Heroic Doctors and Nurses Who Perform Medicine’s Tiniest Miracles,” by Edward Humes, and on the Discovery Health Channel’s “Babies: Special Delivery.”

Tertiary Care is the Best Care for Premature & Critical Care Newborns

Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach is one of 22 hospitals in California to feature a Level III NICU–the highest designation available from the State. In order to receive this designation, the unit must meet strict state regulatory criteria to provide the necessary care for very sick infants who need immediate surgery, or who weigh less than two pounds. The babies and their families are supported by many professionals who specialize in the care of neonates. Continuous care from board certified/eligible neonatologists, registered nurses (RNs) and registered respiratory therapists (RRTs) is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This specialized team uses state-of-the-art technology to treat their tiny patients, resulting in one of the highest risk-adjusted survival rates.

The NICU at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach features:

• 24-hour:
  • In-house coverage by board certified/eligible neonatologists
  • Interpreter Services
  • Medical Social Work coverage
  • Pediatric Physician Subspecialty coverage
  • Perinatology and Anesthesiology coverage
  • NICU Specific Respiratory Care Services
  • NICU Specific Registered Nurse Care
• California Children’s Services (CCS) approved provider
• Certified Hearing Screening Center
• Child Life Program/Sibling Support
• Clinical and Basic Science Laboratory
• Comprehensive Surgical Services
• Cuddler Volunteer Program
• Developmental Care Program–"WeeCare"
• High Risk Infant Follow-Up Program
• Infant CPR Training for Parents/Family
• Lactation Support Services
• March of Dimes NICU Family Support
• Multidisciplinary Transport Team
• Neonatal Cardiac Program
• Neonatal Case Management and Discharge Planning
• Neonatal Parent Educator
• Neonatal Clinical Dieticians/Nutritionists
• Neonatal/Occupational/Physical/Speech Therapists
• Neonatal/Pediatric Home Health
• Neonatal/Perinatal Research Program
• Outpatient Specialty Care Centers, Clinics & Programs
• Pain Management Program
• Parent Education & Support Program (Bilingual-Spanish)
• Skin-to-Skin Care
• UCI Physician Residency Training/ Neonatal Fellowship Training Program

Support Programs

High-risk Maternal and Newborn Ambulance Transport Program

Our transport teams are available to assist the smaller community hospitals in the surrounding area as women of high-risk pregnancy, high-risk multiples and infants are transported in for a higher level of medical care.

March of Dimes NICU Family Support

The March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program provides information and comfort for families of premature babies and other critically ill newborns being cared for in the Miller Children’s NICU. This program is the first such initiative in the state of California and is led by a March of Dimes NICU Family Support Specialist®. This program helps parents through the hospitalization of a newborn – often a lengthy and emotional process, where parents feel isolated and may not get a chance to hold their baby for weeks. Providing communication with other parents who are sharing a similar experience, or whose babies have “graduated” and are at home helps parents to know they are not alone.

Wee Care Program

The Wee Care Program is an evidence-based, clinically relevant, comprehensive program designed to teach the philosophy and foundation of developmentally supportive family-centered care, while providing practical approaches to promote the best possible outcomes for premature infants and their families.

Visiting Hours

• Parents are encouraged to stay with their child as much as they can.
• Visiting hours are from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• A parent must accompany any visitor, with a limit of two people at any bedside.
• Visitors must scrub their hands with a brush and soap at the sinks outside of the baby’s room for three minutes before visiting. All rings, watches and bracelets must be taken off before scrubbing and kept off until leaving the room.
• A gown is required when holding a baby.