Rush Children's Hospital is one of two hospitals in the Chicago area that has 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.

The NICU receives full subspecialty support from pediatric medical subspecialists, pediatric surgery and other surgical subspecialties. In addition, Rush Children's Hospital is the only hospital with complete neonatal nurse practitioner coverage on all low birth weight infants. These two factors have been associated with lower mortality and morbidity rates.

Services Provided

• Full range of medical and surgical care for high-risk infants—24 hours a day/seven days a week
• Consultations and referrals

Clinical Team

Rush Children's Hospital is one of two hospitals in the Chicago area that provides 24-hour coverage by a board-certified neonatologist, with immediate availability for consultations and referrals. The unit staff includes neonatologists, neonatal nurses, nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists. Also available are pediatric medical subspecialists, pediatric surgeons and other surgical subspecialties as needed to care for infants in the unit.

• Robert Kimura, MD, Section Director
• Jean M. Silvestri, MD, Clinical Director, Special Care Nursery
• Harold R. Bigger, MD
• Urmila Chaudhry, MD
• Werner A. Meier, MD
• Aloka L. Patel, MD
• Kousiki Patra, MD
• Steven Powell, MD
• Alok Rastogi, MD, MBBS
• Shobhana Ravikumar, MD
• Arvind Shukla, MD
• Stefanie R. Spanier-Mingolelli, MD 
• Ushanalini Vasan, MBBS, DCh