Ronald McDonald® Children's Hospital

In our 50-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we provide the highest level of care with the latest technology, therapies, and techniques. We care for newborn infants with a wide variety of medical and surgical problems.

The NICU is a family-friendly environment. We attend not only to the baby but to the parents dealing with the emotional stress of having a sick baby in the hospital.  Visiting hours are liberal (closed only 9:30 a.m. to noon). Social work, pastoral care, and lactation support are just a few of the services we offer.

Some of the conditions treated include prematurity, birth defects, congenital heart disease, newborn infection, and chronic lung disease. A wide range of pediatric specialists assist our staff of board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal nurses, and neonatal respiratory therapists. As a training center, doctors who have received specialized training in Pediatrics and Neonatology participate in the care.

Other services include prenatal consultation and developmental follow-up.

Integrated Neonatal Home Care Program
This unique program brings the expertise of the NICU to the home. Babies still requiring certain special care can be transitioned to home with individual parent training and ongoing home visits by our neonatal nursing staff.

Transport to NICU
Babies not born at Loyola are transferred by helicopter or by ambulance. If you are a physician who needs a consultation or needs to arrange transport to the neonatal unit, call (708) 216-6969.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Our NICU is especially known for the care of extremely premature babies. Our commitment to quality means that we are continuously comparing our outcomes to national standards and working to maximize our performance. In addition, we evaluate the needs of our patients and families to make sure that optimal technologies and programs are in place.

Developmental Follow-up Clinic
High-risk infants undergo developmental screening and referral throughout the first years of life. These multidisciplinary evaluations may include a neonatologist, nurse practitioner, occupational therapist, physical therapist, nutritionist, and developmental specialist. Clinics are held at Loyola Outpatient Centers both in Maywood and Oakbrook Terrace.