Newborn baby wrapped in a blanket

Neonatal Intensive Care

The question is always in the back of your mind—what if something goes wrong? Community has you covered. Thousands of babies have started life in the safe, caring environment of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Community Health Network.

RSV Visitation Update - October 16, 2023

Due to a recent increase in RSV cases, sibling visitation will be suspended in the NICU effective October 16, 2023. No person under the age of 18, who is not a parent, will be permitted to enter the NICU. This visitation restriction will continue until RSV cases in Central Indiana decrease significantly. Thank you for helping us keep your infant safe.

Sincerely, 
The NICU medical and nursing staff

We Specialize in Your Baby’s Health

Every Community NICU is designed to be exceptionally sensitive to the needs of infants and families. No matter where you deliver within our network, you’ll have access to:

  • Speech, occupational and physical therapists available to assist with developmental care of at-risk newborns
  • Lactation consultants available every day of the week
  • Robust case management programs, with social workers dedicated to Maternity and NICU departments

While all of our hospitals have achieved a Level II NICU designation, Community Hospital East and Community Hospital North offer Level III care for infants with the highest needs due to complex or severe illness. We offer easy transfer to Community Hospitals East or North should the need arise for your baby.

Explore the NICU options at our hospitals below.

Community Hospital Anderson

NICU Highlights

  • Level II NICU
  • Six beds, including one isolation room
  • Pediatricians available 24/7 with a pediatric hospitalist that rounds on all infants daily
  • Access to neonatologists from Riley Hospital for Children
  • Occupational, physical and speech therapists available via consultation
  • Lactation consultants available seven days a week
  • Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
  • Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria

Recognitions

  • Gold Certified in Safe Sleep
  • Baby Friendly Certification
  • Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
  • Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services
Community Hospital East

NICU Highlights

  • Level III NICU
  • 16 beds, including 14 private rooms with two designated as mother and baby suites in which a recovering mother can stay in the same room with her NICU baby
  • 24/7 access to in-house specialists:
    • Neonatologists
    • Neonatal nurse practitioners
    • NICU respiratory therapists
    • Riley neonatologists available via consultation
  • Dedicated social worker for the maternity and NICU departments
  • Lactation consultants available seven days a week
  • Occupational, physical and speech therapists available to assist with developmental care of at-risk newborns
  • The most advanced monitoring and communications systems available:
    • NICVIEW® camera systems, which allow parents to see their baby while offsite via web or mobile app
    • Noise-sensing lights remind visitors and staff to keep noise levels down for babies requiring low stimulation
    • Hardwired cardiac monitoring
    • Hardwired monitoring for neuro testing
  • Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
  • Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria

Recognitions

  • The Joint Commission Perinatal Care Certification achieved and maintained since 2016
  • Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
  • CHE named 2nd Best Hospital in the state of Indiana by US News and World Report in 2020.
  • Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services
  • Vermont Oxford Network Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Center of Excellence
Community Hospital North

NICU Highlights

  • Level III NICU
  • 48 beds, including 42 private suites
  • 24/7 access to in-house specialists:
    • Neonatologists from Riley Hospital for Children
    • NICU respiratory therapists
    • Neonatal nurse practitioners
    • Subspecialty care available: Pediatric gastrointestinal, surgery, anesthesiology, cardiology, ophthalmology and neurology
  • Dedicated NICU social worker
  • Clinical psychologist for parents of NICU patients
  • Lactation consultants available seven days a week
  • Occupational, physical and speech therapists available to assist with developmental care of at-risk newborns
  • The most advanced monitoring and communications systems available:
    • NICVIEW® camera systems, which allow parents to see their baby while offsite via web or mobile app
    • Heat, humidity and noise controls that reduce stress and enhance infant biological rhythms
    • Noise-sensing lights remind visitors and staff to keep noise levels down for babies requiring low stimulation
    • Hardwired cardiac monitoring
    • Hardwired monitoring for neuro testing
  • Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
  • Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria
  • NICU developmental follow-up clinic for those who meet criteria

Recognitions

  • Designated as one of Indiana’s Perinatal Centers
  • "Best place to deliver a baby" from IndyStar 2020
  • Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
  • Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services
Community Hospital South

NICU Highlights

  • Level II NICU
  • 10 beds, including 1 private isolation room
  • 24/7 access to in-house specialists:
    • Pediatric hospitalists
  • Access to neonatologists from Riley Hospital for Children
  • Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapists available to assist with developmental care of at-risk newborns
  • Robust social work and case management program
  • Lactation consultants available 7 days a week
  • Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
  • Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria

Recognitions

  • Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
  • Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services
Community Howard Regional Health

NICU Highlights

  • Level II NICU
  • Six beds, including one private isolation room
  • Pediatricians available 24/7 with a pediatric hospitalist that rounds on all infants daily
  • Access to neonatologists from Riley Hospital for Children
  • Occupational, physical and speech therapists available via consultation
  • Lactation consultants available on weekdays
  • Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
  • Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria

Recognitions

  • Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
  • Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services

Big Support for Little Miracles

You can count on us to compassionately respond to the individual needs of your baby and family.

The most common need of a newborn in newborn intensive care is respiratory support due to prematurity. We provide ventilator and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) support as well as intravenous nutrition, central and peripheral lines, oxygen therapy, antibiotics and phototherapy.

In newborn intensive care, parents are active participants in their infant’s care through:

  • Kangaroo care (skin to skin contact between infants and parents).
  • Touch/massage therapy and developmental care as a way to nurture the newborns and to promote parental bonding.

Breastfeeding is important for babies in a NICU:

  • If your baby is in neonatal intensive care, a lactation (breastfeeding) consultant is available to you even after you have gone home.
  • Breast pumps are available in the NICU for your convenience.