NICU

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The NICU of IASO is a tertiary intensive care center and operates at three levels: intensive, intermediate and general acute care. In the intensive care unit, newborns who were born prematurely or even older, who need respiratory support or face other types of neonatal problems are hospitalized. When their condition improves, they are transferred to the intermediate care unit and from there to simple monitoring.

All the departments of the unit have a unique design according to international standards of operation of neonatal units and have equipment that is constantly renewed.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at IASO is one of the best of its kind in Greece and abroad. It has been created exclusively for providing immediate treatment to neonates, treating the numerous problems caused by prematurity and other diseases in the neonatal period.

The main characteristics that have made the NICU one of the best of its kind in Greece are:

The ideal natural environment which is free of intense lights, excessive noise and intense stress caused to neonates by intensive care, the application of the Kangaroo Care method and Breastfeeding in premature neonates.
State-of-the-art equipment that utilizes pioneering technology.
Strictly selected and specially trained medical and nursing staff.

Within the context of its social policy, IASO has entered into partnership agreement with the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity for the treatment of neonates at the Clinic’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at special prices that are covered by public insurance funds.

Characteristics of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

It’s located on the 2nd floor of the Clinic and extends to 780 m2.
The Unit has three care levels [critical (intensive) care, intermediate (stepdown/progressive) care, and medical/surgical (general acute) care], with a total capacity of 90 beds, 44 of which are for critical, 13 for intermediate and 33 for medical/surgical care.
All neonatal problems can be treated, including congenital heart disease and neurosurgical problems requiring surgical intervention.
It features mechanical equipment (incubators, ventilators, gas analyzers) of the latest technology with upgrade potential, when necessary. All modern types of mechanical ventilation are provided (high frequency oscillation, HFO) with synchronous administration of nitric acid, where required.
Neonates are monitored 24 hours a day with the most reliable monitors (individual monitoring of all neonates simultaneously via a central station).
Modern enteral and parenteral nutrition protocols are implemented via a special computer program.
It runs a breast milk conservation and enrichment bank for the nutrition of underdeveloped, premature newborns.
The unit boasts an excellently trained nursing staff – only graduates from higher education institutions - who receive continuing training.

The responsibility for the treatment of neonates on a 24-hour basis lies exclusively with experienced neonatologists in cooperation with consultants specializing in neonates (surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists, ophthalmologists, ENT physicians, etc.).

A neurological and ophthalmologic tests are performed on all premature babies prior to their discharge from the Unit. Also, neonates to be discharged undergo a hearing test using the otoacoustic emissions method.

Monitoring of neonates continues even after their discharge from the Unit, until the age of 8, through a comprehensive long-term Follow-Up Program, for the early detection of any possible disorders.

Apart from the basic neonatal monitoring and hospitalization (critical, intermediate and medical/surgical) areas, the Unit also has a reception-administration office, a special area for intravenous solutions preparation, a room where breast milk is collected and stored, an area for ultrasounds and otoacoustic emissions, physicians’ and on-call physician’s office, a special area for washing out incubators and preparing visitors for entry to the Unit and many other auxiliary areas.

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