The heart of Sutter Health beats in the thousands of tiny infants who have populated our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) since its inception in 1982. The NICU, also called the Special Care Nursery, provides critical care sometimes needed in the first hours of life to ensure babies grow into strong and healthy children.

The NICU at Sutter Memorial Hospital is a licensed 55-bed, Level III tertiary care center serving 23 counties and more than 48 hospitals. The California Children's Services (CCS) approved program includes eight physicians board certified in neonatal-perinatal medicine, a specially trained transport team and more than 150 nurses, many of whom are certified in Advanced Life Support. The Special Care Nursery is supported by more than 25 neonatal and pediatric subspecialists immediately accessible through the nursery. State-of-the-art technologies, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), high-frequency ventilation, and inhaled nitric oxide, help the unit achieve a higher-than-expected survival rate. The 24-hour facility encourages families to visit as much as possible and take an active role in the baby's care.

Additional support is provided by social workers and the Child Life staff who help take care of the emotional needs of families and patients, and by specially trained respiratory care practitioners, technicians, discharge planners and physical and occupational therapists, who help extend care beyond the hospital walls. Together, the team delivers the highest standard of care available to our smallest patients.

In addition to more than 1,000 patients admitted each year, Special Care Nursery physicians and nurses gladly offer consultations and advice to physicians across Northern California. Though infant survival rates increase when deliveries take place within Sutter Memorial Hospital, a highly trained transport team is available around the clock to bring infants from other hospitals by ambulance and fixed-wing aircraft.

Families whose children have received care in the nursery hold fond memories of the dedication of the staff that provide care. The staff develops equally strong bonds to the babies and families with whom they share this special, but difficult, life experience. Each year, the reunion of graduates from the nursery gathers staff and families back together to celebrate life.

Our neonatology specialists are:

• Stephen Butler, M.D.
• J. Fernando Rosas Carrillo, M.D.
• Kim Chiwan, M.D.
• Cindy Korte, M.D.
• Arthur Lyons, M.D.
• Gustavo Sosa, M.D.
• Andrew Wertz, M.D.
• William Todd West, M.D.

To contact a neonatologist or to arrange a NICU transport call (916) 733-1060 or (888) 510-1002

More information about the special health concerns of premature infants and other conditions that could lead to care in the neonatal intensive care unit is available in the Children's Health section of our health information.