The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Shaare Zedek Medical Center cares for infants born as early as the 23rd week of pregnancy. The facility includes 70 isolating cribs (in addition to 20 cribs in the NICU for patient visitation), advanced equipment, a skilled team, and a unique MRI device designed for premature infants. A special room is available to parents to prepare them for their baby's homecoming.
Equipped with state-of-the-art ventilation and monitoring devices, the NICU adjusts the infants' breathing rate to their specific needs and provides precise information about each hospitalized baby at any given moment. It is the only unit in the country equipped with an MRI device specifically tailored for premature infants. Advanced incubators, providing warmth and protection even in an open state, are also available. These incubators are equipped with a ventilator and monitoring equipment and can be moved to the delivery room to provide the best conditions for the newborn immediately after birth. All of these facilities offer a wide range of monitoring and treatment options.
The department's nurses have many years of experience in caring for newborns in general and premature infants in particular. They provide personalized, patient, and dedicated care to each baby and their family.
Every week, the NICU team holds joint meetings with the delivery room team to prepare for the births of women hospitalized at high risk of premature birth. The triage process in the NICU is a unique model developed at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. During this process, each premature baby undergoes a well-organized diagnostic procedure that lasts no more than four hours, during which the initial decision on the type of treatment is made (intensive care for preterm infants, intermediate care, or discharge if the baby is confirmed to be healthy).
5%-10% of infants are born prematurely, and it is only natural that the largest birthing center in Israel would operate an advanced and large NICU accordingly. The premature birth rate at Shaare Zedek is one of the lowest in Israel, resulting from significant improvements in pre-birth treatment and monitoring and an emphasis on non-invasive fertility methods. Nevertheless, at any given moment, the NICU treats more than 50 premature infants. During the planning of the next-generation building of the hospital, the expected growth and future needs of Jerusalem's population and the NICU were taken into account. The new NICU was built to meet these demands.
The NICU team operates with great sensitivity to the distress of parents who may need to leave their child in the NICU for an extended period. The NICU is open for parents and family visits around the clock, and it provides a separate space for families to stay close to each incubator in the hospital rooms. The families also have access to bathroom facilities, waiting and sleeping chairs, and breastfeeding rooms.
Out of concern for the family's well-being and an awareness of the challenges that arise upon the infant's discharge and arrival at home, two unique adaptation rooms were established in the NICU, the first of their kind in Israel, designed to prepare parents for the expected change. Parents can sleep in the adaptation room with their baby during their last night in the hospital, with medical staff available to provide assistance if needed. The room has been found to alleviate parents' concerns about the discharge and their separation from close medical supervision, building their self-assurance in their ability to care for their child independently.
After discharge, the baby is invited to a multi-team follow-up clinic, which includes neonatologists, a communication specialist, and a physiotherapist. The frequency of follow-up is tailored to the baby's medical condition.