St. Luke's Meridian
Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Location
The Level II Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Luke's Meridian is located on the third floor of the Meridian hospital campus. It is adjacent to Labor and Delivery, our Mother/Baby Unit, and our Newborn Nursery, making it convenient for families to be close to their newborn infants.
An Exceptional Staff
At St. Luke’s Meridian NICU, we have a team of professionals that includes board certified neonatologists, pediatric and family medicine physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, lactation consultants, dietitians, and a social worker. Our NICU team members provide the experience and compassionate care that infants and their families require. We provide care for the delicate physical, emotional, and developmental needs of all infants.
Our staff members are trained to care for infants who require long term intravenous feedings and infusions, and infants who need prolonged oxygen support. We are also trained to care for premature infants requiring tube feeding and breast-feeding support.
Infants who require higher acuity services for their critical needs are transferred to our Level III NICU at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise. They may subsequently return to the Meridian NICU once they are medically stable and improving.
About Our Unit
We currently have six NICU beds and 16 newborn bassinets, with two private rooms that can accommodate twins. By summer 2009, we will complete a remodel expansion of our NICU to 12 beds.
Family Accommodations
St. Luke’s Meridian Maternity floor has Mother/Baby rooms adjacent to the NICU where parents can spend the night to be closer to their infant, if space is available. Mothers of infants in the NICU who wish to breastfeed and be available for frequent feedings, may spend the night in one of the patient rooms, if space allows. Newborn central monitoring, which will allow NICU infants to room in with their parents, will be available in the near future.
Customized Care
Our St. Luke’s Meridian neonatologists are board-certified and provide their expertise 24 hours a day. Our NICU nurses attend deliveries to provide one-to-one care for newborn and mother. We provide family-centered care to promote bonding in a secure environment. Our unit is always locked at every entrance/exit to assure patient security and safety.
A Multidisciplinary Team
In addition to doctors and nurses, many other highly trained professionals provide the best care for babies in the NICU:
- Respiratory therapists with special training to provide oxygen support. They have advanced skills for stabilizing critically ill infants. Our RTs also assist with all high-risk deliveries and Cesarean sections.
- Certified lactation nurse consultants assist mothers with breastfeeding their infants during their hospital stay and after discharge, if necessary.
- Dietitians assist physicians in providing optimum nutrition for our infants.
- Social workers are available to help with the emotional issues that often arise when an infant is admitted to the NICU. They also help parents access community resources for financial support, transportation, housing, and other needs. They assist in the discharge planning of infants requiring follow-up services.
Key Contact Numbers
St. Luke's Meridian Nursery/NICU
(208) 706-3178St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital NICU
St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center
(208) 381-2661Neonatology
(208) 381-2088NICU Nursing Clinical Supervisor
(208) 706-3110Social Work
(208) 706-1565Maternity Director
(208) 706-5278
