Neonatal Unit...How Important?

So I live in west suffolk and will be delivering at Huntington Hospital, however, I just found out that they don't have a Neo Natal Unit, although they do have a Neonatologist, but god forbid a baby needs constant care thay send them to North Shore Manhasset.

I delivered my son at LIJ but have since moved and changed DR.s

My question is, would you switch Drs Hospitals for this reason? Mind you, I am 40 mins from LIJ and I am due in Feb, so the weather could be not the best...

Does anyone know of hospitals near Huntington that do have neo-natal units? and that have good reputations like north shore/lij?

Message edited 9/21/2008 9:03:30 PM.

Re: Neo Natal Unit...How Important?

I frankly am not sure what I'd do in your situation....

stony brook has a very reputable and fully equiped neonatal unit.... but I bet it isn't much closer than LIJ. it IS going against the rush hour traffic and into the less densely populated suburbs though, so you likely could get there faster.

Re: Neo Natal Unit...How Important?

well, here are your options, I used to do critical care trasports.......

If you deliver at HUntington Hospital and the Baby needs to be in a NICU then the Dr's will need to request a transfer either to LIJ or StonyBrook.........

It can take anywhere from 1-8 hours for them to assemble a transport team that will come and take teh baby to teh appropriate fascility. Unfortunately unless you require higher level of care that can't be provided at the fascility where you deliver you CAN'T go with the baby. You will have to stay at your delivering hospital until you are discharged or risk leaving against medical advice in which your insurance comapny has the legal right to deny the WHOLE claim...........................


You also need to ask your DR if there is a neaonatologist on call or ALWAYS inhouse incase of an emergency and find out what they are equiped to handle. Some hospitals don't even carry neonatal ventilators in case of emergencies...............

FM if you have any more questions!

Re: Neo Natal Unit...How Important?

Re: Neo Natal Unit...How Important?

Posted by wannabemom

Posted by Blissful

well, here are your options, I used to do critical care trasports.......

If you deliver at HUntington Hospital and the Baby needs to be in a NICU then the Dr's will need to request a transfer either to LIJ or StonyBrook.........

It can take anywhere from 1-8 hours for them to assemble a transport team that will come and take teh baby to teh appropriate fascility. Unfortunately unless you require higher level of care that can't be provided at the fascility where you deliver you CAN'T go with the baby. You will have to stay at your delivering hospital until you are discharged or risk leaving against medical advice in which your insurance comapny has the legal right to deny the WHOLE claim...........................


You also need to ask your DR if there is a neaonatologist on call or ALWAYS inhouse incase of an emergency and find out what they are equiped to handle. Some hospitals don't even carry neonatal ventilators in case of emergencies...............

FM if you have any more questions!

wow. I learned a lot! thanks for that post.....

Re: Neo Natal Unit...How Important?

My son was in NICU and needed to go right away after birth. Have a NICU would be very very important to me and I would switch hospitals if it didn't have one.

Re: Neo Natal Unit...How Important?

I delivered at LIJ and my daughter used the NICU. The care she received there was the best care (in particular, the nursing) I have EVER seen in my life. My OBs are in Great Neck just about as close to North Shore as they are to LIJ. When I asked why they deliver at LIJ, they said undoubtedly because of Schneider's NICU in the event we needed it. I never thought we would, but we did and the NICU may have been our saving grace. Also, North Shore is phasing out their peds department and deferring to LIJ as well (or so my pediatrician told me).

Also, for future reference, LIJ is in the midst of construction on a women's health pavillion. I assume they will have more private rooms and a more updated look for maternity.

After my experience, Id never have another baby anywhere else. I don't know if that helps you, but I thought I'd share my experience.

Message edited 9/19/2008 7:14:26 AM.

Re: Neo Natal Unit...How Important?

Thank you all for your help! I am not sure what to do, but I was going to add that I am not a high risk and my son did not need any extra care, so I also do not expect to need a NICU...it was just something I started thinking about.

After seeing Goldie's post (how she did not expect to need one either), I am thinking about it more. Other than having to travel far to a hospital, I am also reluctant to change Drs at this point. However, it is something I am still considering.

Re: Neonatal Unit...How Important?

I will not have a NICU at the hospital I'm delivering at. Since I am full term I am willing to take the chance of delivering there and if the baby needs specialized care he will be taken to Stony Brook by a transport team. I hapen to work at the hospital as a respiratory therapist and we have 2 neonatal vents and I can honestly say we have never waited longer then 2 hours (usually 45 min- 1 hour MAX) for a transport team to arrive once they were called. While it's not an ideal situation, I live way too far away from Stony Brook to deliver there "just in case" of problems. Plus I would have had to cange OB's and drive over an hour for regular appt.'s which wouldn't have been ideal either. If I had a high-risk pregnancy I would have definately made the switch.

Message edited 9/21/2008 9:20:41 PM.

Re: Neonatal Unit...How Important?

I live in Huntington and I had my son and will have my DD at Good Sam. My dr. is in Islip. Good Sam was fanastic and I was very comfortable knowing that they have an excellent NICU should it be needed.
Just so you know, it actually took us less time to get to Good Sam during rush hour than it did to go to Huntington Hospital.