Saint Luke’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) help babies who need extra care. Should your baby need our NICU services, you will be an integral part of that care.

Saint Luke’s admits babies to its NICU when they:

• Are born before 35 weeks of gestation or need help with breathing, maintaining a normal temperature, or learning how to eat
• Have a possible infection, even if they appear fine
• Are born with critical medical conditions that require special treatment or surgery
• Need close supervision for a few hours before joining their mothers

NICUs are designated by level of care available:

• Level I: Basic Newborn Care
  Staff in Level I facilities can stabilize babies born near term for transfer to advanced care facilities.
• Level II: Advanced Newborn Care
  Specialty-trained staff care for babies born at 32 weeks gestation or older, or those recovering from more serious conditions.
• Level III: Subspecialty Newborn Care
  Specialty-trained staff care for babies born at less than 32 weeks gestation, as well as babies born with critical illness at all gestational ages.

Saint Luke’s has the region’s first and only human donor milk program, making nutrient-rich human milk available to fragile babies who need it the most.

We encourage families to visit the NICU as often as possible, but we may limit visits by extended family members depending on your baby’s condition. During flu season, we further limit visitors to protect our vulnerable babies.

Our care doesn’t end once our tiniest patients head home. Saint Luke’s NICU Follow-up Clinic gives new parents help with the unique needs of a NICU baby. One of our neonatal nurses and a physician will assess your infant and talk with you about any issues you may face. You can also meet with our occupational therapists, social workers, nutritionists, and lactation consultants if needed.

Locations

Saint Luke’s Hospital – Level III NICU
4401 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64111
816-932-2000

Saint Luke’s East Hospital – Level III NICU
100 NE Saint Luke’s Blvd.
Lee’s Summit, MO 64086
816-347-5000

Saint Luke’s North Hospital-Barry Road – Level II NICU
5830 NW Barry Road
Kansas City, MO 64154
816-891-6000

Saint Luke’s South Hospital – Level III NICU
12300 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, KS 66213
913-317-7000

Care team

• Neonatologists—board-certified pediatricians who specialize in caring for premature and critically ill newborns
• Neonatal nurse practitioners—specially-trained nurses who help care for newborns
• Registered nurses—nurses who work closely with patients and teach them how to take care of their babies
• Respiratory therapists—specialists who help babies with respiratory issues breathe easier
• Lactation consultants—registered nurses who have special training in helping mothers and babies learn how to breastfeed
• Neonatal nutritionists—specially trained registered dietitians who design nutritional plans for preterm babies that promote weight gain, increased energy, boosted tube feedings, and decreased hospital stays
• Occupational therapists—specialists who work with parents to address their babies' developmental needs and any feeding issues that may arise
• Infant massage therapists—specially trained therapists who use massage techniques to promote a baby's development
• Pharmacists—experts who work directly with physicians to manage patient medication.
• Social workers/case managers—specially trained workers who provide emotional support, assist with insurance issues, and address other needs parents may have.