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Riley Children's Health

Neonatology (NICU)

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  • Specialized programs to care for the smallest and sickest babies
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At Riley Children’s Health, we understand that having a newborn baby with urgent medical needs can be an overwhelming experience. That’s why we strive to provide the best care for you and your family.

What is Neonatology?

Neonatology is a specialized medical field that focuses on the care and treatment of newborn babies, particularly those who are born prematurely or have other birth defects that require immediate medical attention after birth.

Neonatologists or neonatal doctors are health professionals that undergo additional training after medical school to become experts in the care of high-risk newborns. At Riley Children’s, our neonatology program is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top programs in the nation. Meaning, our neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are among the best in the U.S.

Riley Children’s offers the highest level of neonatology care

Riley Children’s offers the most advanced neonatology services in Indiana. With a Level IV NICU at Riley Hospital for Children in downtown Indianapolis, offering the highest level of care, neonatal specialists care for the most complex neonates needing the most specialized treatment options.

Riley Hospital for Children also offers a Level III NICU in our Riley Maternity Tower. This NICU offers a dedicated delivery team that provides resuscitation and stabilization for high and standard risk deliveries. The multidisciplinary team is equipped to care for the tiniest and most critically ill babies while offering a large range of neonatal services and support.

Across our NICUs at Riley Hospital for Children and our NICU at IU Health North Hospital, we deliver expert neonatology care near families, close to home.

Best Children's Hospitals, Neonatology 2022-23, US News & World Report

Nationally ranked neonatal care

Riley Children's Health Neonatology is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report. We provide care to the most critical babies in Indiana at our Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)—the highest designation level for NICUs—at our main campus in downtown Indianapolis.

Specialized programs to care for the smallest and sickest babies

Specialized programs to care for the smallest and sickest babies

At Riley Children’s, we work closely with medical and surgical specialists to deliver and coordinate care for your baby. Below are a few highly sub-specialized programs we offer:

NeuroNICU

A partnership between neonatology and neurology provides the highest level of care for infants with neurological conditions.

Lung and Airway

A team of specialists provides innovative preeminent care to prevent and treat lung and airway problems in preterm and term newborns.

Heart Center NICU

Dedicated program to support babies with complex heart conditions.

Perinatal Genomics

Provides patients and families access to genetic services to diagnose genetic disorders that require the need for NICU care.

High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Care

Specialized feeding and neurodevelopmental care for your baby after going home from NICU. We continue to monitor your baby’s progress to ensure they are healthy by following their individualized growth and developmental goals.

Neonatal Kidney Health

Features the combined experience and expertise of neonatologists and nephrologists to provide cutting-edge, evidence-based care for your baby’s kidney health.

NICU Mental Health

Psychologists provide emotional support, psychotherapy, infant mental health intervention, screening, and education for families whose infants are hospitalized in the Simon Family Tower NICU.

Fetal Center

Multidisciplinary program that coordinates care for high-risk pregnancies with complex fetal diagnoses.

Family-centered care

While your baby receives the most advanced treatment, our comprehensive care team provides you and your family every available resource so you can focus on your child. Our family-centered care includes:

  • Private rooms for all families within our NICUs
  • NICView™ camera system so families can securely see their baby on any device anytime
  • Child Life, family support specialists, lactation consultants and psychologists
  • Parent engagement in care and daily rounds
  • NICU Nest, a parent-support resource created for NICU families by NICU families

Committed to excellence

Our neonatologists are focused on improving care and developing lifesaving treatments. Riley Children’s was the first in Indiana to evaluate the use of surfactant therapy, which is now used at hospitals across the nation to treat breathing problems in premature babies.

We also tested and assisted in federal approval for a technology called high frequency jet ventilation. This technology helps babies breathe without stressing their lungs. In addition to introducing new medical services to our own patients, we also share our findings with other NICUs across the country.

Conditions & Services

Conditions Treated

Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.

  • Abdominal Wall Defects
  • Chorioangioma
  • Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)
  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Down Syndrome
  • Gastroschisis in Babies
  • Hydrops Fetalis
  • Neonatal Encephalopathy
  • Omphalocele
  • Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Prematurity
  • Spina Bifida
  • Vasa Previa

Services Offered

We offer a number of different Neonatology (NICU) services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.

  • Continuous Electroencephalogram (EEG) Monitoring
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
  • Inhaled Nitric Oxide
  • Intubation & Mechanical Ventilation
  • Laser Eye Therapy
  • Neonatal Resuscitation
  • Pediatric Genetic Counseling
  • Sleep Study
  • Therapeutic Hypothermia

Doctors and Locations

Doctors

Our dedicated team of neonatologists works around the clock to provide highly specialized care to newborn patients at Riley at IU Health. Our department coordinates with specialists from other departments to ensure every newborn receives the expert care he or she needs.

Locations

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.

Riley Maternity Tower

702 Barnhill Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46202

317.948.7113

Get Directions

View location information

Fetal Center at Riley Children's Health

575 Riley Hospital Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46202

317.948.5077

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View location information

See all facilities →

Related Programs

Related Programs

We provide multispecialty Neonatology programs for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related Neonatology programs.

  • Newborn Follow-up Program

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Health Professionals

For Health Professionals

The Neonatology Department at Riley at IU Health works with NICUs across the state of Indiana to raise the standard of care provided to newborn patients in need of advanced care. We work with researchers to continually improve outcomes and explore new treatment options.

Transfer a Patient

To request a patient transfer to Riley at IU Health, call the IU Health Transfer Center: 317.963.3330

Refer A Patient

Refer A Patient

Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.

Education

Riley at IU Health works in conjunction with the Indiana University School of Medicine to provide fellowship-level training through the Section of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. This fellowship provides exceptional opportunities to develop clinical knowledge and experience.

Education Resources:
  • Medical Students
  • Residents
  • Fellowship
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Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2023-24

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Indiana University Health
Find adult services at iuhealth.org


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