Facts About Your NICU

Kaweah Health NICU - Level III

• 23 bed community NICU, designated by California Children’s Services providing care for infants as early as 24 weeks gestation
• 8 overflow care beds
• 23 private developmentally-friendly rooms for advanced care and family bonding, including a parent lounge where caregivers can decompress, shower and eat
• Neonatologist on site 24/7
• Advanced monitoring and communications system, cycled lighting with noise precautions to reduce stress and enhance infant biological rhythms
• Equipped with the latest advancements in respiratory care. The most common need of a newborn in the NICU is respiratory support due to prematurity, pneumonia, transient tachypnea of the newborn and sepsis. Such support includes the following:
  • Oscillators
  • Conventional ventilators
  • CPAP
  • High-flow nasal cannula
  • ROP screening by CCS paneled Pediatric Ophthalmologist Dr. D. Holt
  • Nurse driven central line team (umbilical and PICC lines)
  • Late pre-term infant program specific to Kaweah Health

Kaweah Health’s NICU Interdisciplinary Team

• All CCS-paneled neonatologists
• Clinical nurse specialist
• Dedicated respiratory care practitioners 24/7
• CCS-paneled medical social workers
• CCS-paneled clinical registered dietitian
• CCS-paneled occupational/physical/speech therapist
• Dedicated developmental care nurse
• Certified lactation counselors who provide lactation assistance

Kaweah Health NICU by the Numbers

• 15 average daily census in 2021
• 705 total admissions in 2021
• 117 vent days in 2021
• 689 central line days in 2021
• 7% newborn antibiotic exposure for all newborns born in 2021