OVERVIEW
The Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart offers the area’s only Level III NICU for the most critically ill and premature newborns.
Most pregnancies and deliveries go as planned, with few complications and mother and baby going home within two days. But should the unexpected happen, mother and baby may need a specialized level of care that can only be provided by an expert group of doctors and nurses.
From high-risk pregnancies to unanticipated complications to premature deliveries, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital is always prepared for the unexpected.
INTENSIVE MEDICAL CARE FOR CRITICALLY ILL AND PREMATURE NEWBORNS
If your child needs advanced care, the Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart is here for your family. As the area’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we deliver advanced care for the most critically ill and premature newborns. If your newborn arrives early or premature, is critically ill, or if complications occur during your delivery, we have an entire care team, including neonatologists, who are specially trained to care for our smallest patients. We start by listening to you. Then, we work together to deliver the care that's right for you and your baby. Our neonatologists are here 24/7, along with neonatal nurses, developmental specialists and other therapists to provide the care and support your family needs.
For babies born at other area hospitals who need more advanced neonatal intensive care, the Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart has two specially equipped mobile neonatal critical care transport ambulances. This allows our care team to transfer premature and critically ill newborns from other hospitals across the region to our Children’s Hospital.
ABOUT THE NICU
In May 2019, the new four-story Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart opened for patient care, including 72 NICU beds. This expansion enables more critically ill and premature babies to receive specialized care from Northwest Florida's only children's hospital. All rooms in the new NICU are private, with one family per room. Level III rooms can be found on the second floor. Level II rooms are located on the third floor.
More than 1,000 babies are admitted to the NICU each year, with about 80 percent born prematurely, defined as being born between two and 16 weeks early. The average stay in the NICU is around 18 days.
Please see our NICU Visitation Policy here.