Levels of care

Approximately 400 babies are admitted to the NICU each year. Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioner and respiratory therapists who work in the NICU are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The NICU team participates in all births when it is expected that the baby may experience difficulties. Members of the NICU team also meet with high-risk mothers before the birth of their baby to discuss the care that their baby will need and what the family can expect after the baby is born.

At KGH, we provide Level I, Level II and Level III neonatal care.

Level I -  This is the minimum requirement for any hospital that provides inpatient maternity care. KGH has the personnel and equipment to perform neonatal resuscitation, evaluate healthy newborn infants, provide postnatal care, and stabilize sick newborns.

Level II - In addition to providing basic care we can provide care to infants who are moderately ill with problems that are expected to resolve rapidly or who are recovering from serious illness. Babies born at KGH needing Level II care are admitted into our NICU.

Level III - Newborns who need Level III care are generally born extremely premature,  are critically ill, or require surgery. These babies are admitted and cared for at KGH in the NICU.