Neonatology Services
The Dana Brown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Our Division of Neonatology includes more than 20 board-certified neonatologists from Saint Louis University School of Medicine who oversee neonatal care at two hospitals — SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital — additionally, on-site clinical care services are also provided at four regional hospitals.
Proud to be the Top Ranked NICU in Missouri
U.S. News & World Report has named SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital as one of the best neonatology programs in the country. We are proud to be the top ranked NICU in the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri. Learn more about our U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
At SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, neonatologists coordinate care in the 65-bed Dana Brown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a Level IV NICU, which is the highest standard of care for newborns. With our advanced technology and the experienced multidisciplinary team available, we have successfully cared for premature babies as young as 22-23 weeks gestation.
The Unit Includes:
- 65 single private patient rooms for parents to stay with their baby
- Specialized, larger shared rooms for twin babies
- Parent lounge with showers, Wi-Fi access, and refrigerators
- NicView™ technology
NicView™ is an innovative, 24/7 secure online portal for parents to access a tiny camera in their baby’s room in the NICU. The system enables parents and family to see their infant in real-time, which helps not only to increase peace of mind and reduce anxiety, but also provide reassurance that a baby is being taken care of when family members are unable to visit at the bedside.
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is proud to offer the March of Dimes NICU Family Support® Program. This program provides family education, staff training on family-centered care and an improved patient experience with the support of March of Dimes experts.
Considered the premier program for NICUs, it is offered at more than 70 hospitals across the country. The network assists more than 50,000 families each year. Along with parent and staff education, the program provides family activities such as bedside activity kits and holiday memory-making opportunities designed to improve a family’s experience throughout their NICU journey. March of Dimes offers complementary resources for families, including the My NICU Baby® App (Mi Bebé en la NICU App) that provide answers to common NICU questions and interactive tracking tools, checklists, videos, and community support in English and Spanish. Learn more about the basics of a NICU stay.
Additional NICU Support Services
Tele-NICU Service
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon was the first in the region to offer neonatal telehealth consultations through its Tele-NICU service. The service offers 24/7 consultative services, coordination of emergency transport, and virtual attendance at high-risk deliveries and neonatal resuscitation emergencies. Neonatologists also can virtually guide umbilical catheter placement through the Tele-NICU portal.
Neonatal Emergency Transport Services
Our goal is to rapidly transport infants and children to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon for emergency care. The program’s team, which includes paramedics, nurses, and respiratory therapists, is based in three locations for rapid deployment throughout Missouri, west and central Illinois, western Kentucky, and areas in Iowa, Indiana, and Arkansas. The hospital owns a helicopter, several ambulances, and specialized Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICUs). All units are equipped to provide bubble CPAP during transport as well as other emergency and respiratory care services. The hospital also operates an extensive Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Service.
With a strong commitment to advancing quality care, our transport team is consistently recognized nationally for advancing best practices in the care of neonates and children during emergency transport.
NICU Visitor Policy
For our patients’ safety, we have a standard policy for anyone entering our NICU. All visitors will be asked for their name and the patient’s name every time you visit. Once admitted to the NICU, you will be asked to wash your hands before entering the baby’s room.
Do not visit the NICU if you have: a cold or the flu, pink eye, or recent exposure to chickenpox, measles, mumps, or COVID-19. In general, if you feel unwell, it is best to postpone your visit.
For more information about our visiting policy, or if you have additional questions or concerns, contact our NICU Welcome Desk at 314-577-5631 or 800-488-9994.