Rush Children's Hospital was the first hospital in the Chicago area to have a board-certified neonatologist in-house 24 hours a day, with immediate availability for consultations and referrals.

All high-risk deliveries, including all pregnancies less than 32 weeks gestation, are attended by a board-certified neonatologist. All critical clinical decisions are made at the bedside by the board-certified neonatologist 24 hours a day.

Rush University Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a 57-bed, Level III, Transport Center made up of six areas located on the sixth floor of the Jelke and Pavilion buidings. During a typical stay, most babies move through all areas of the NICU as they get healthier and prepare to go home. Having a baby in the NICU is often unexpected and can be very overwhelming. We understand that parents will cope with this situation in their own way. The NICU staff is here to help you through this time.

A Model of Care

Rush University Medical Center is in the middle of a 10-year project that will transform our campus and the way we provide medical care. Called the Rush Transformation, it includes new and renovated buildings designed to better support patient needs, as well as advanced information systems that will improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care.

The New Neonatal Intensive Care Unit 

Rush's new hospital has been designed to better serve the needs of high-risk newborns with labor and delivery located immediately next to the NICU, so babies in medical distress can be put in the hands of intensive care specialists within seconds after delivery. The ability to respond quickly during the first critical minutes of an infant's life will enable the best possible care. The Renee Schine Crown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, opening in early 2013, will be the only NICU in Chicago with private rooms. It will include 72 patient rooms equipped to care for the infants' special needs and allow family members to remain at the bedside.