Some hospitals specialize in maternal illnesses.  Our hospital has a dedicated Maternal Special Care Unit for moms with diabetes, hypertension, babies with anomalies, multiple birth pregnancies, etc.  I bet at least 50% of those babies end up in NICU.  Ours is a level 3 hospital.  ON the other hand, a level 1 hospital would not have a special care for mothers.  If you had a 30% admission to NICU there, that would be a problem! Insurance companies maintain a close look at who gets sent to NICU.  There has to be a good reason - or they won't pay.  It's not in the best interest of hospitals to send babies to NICU who don't belong - and risk not getting reimbursed for the care!  I'm seeing babies kept in well-baby that need antibiotics, phototherapy, etc. that would have gone to NICU in past years because of these reimbursement issues.   

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nikki Lee
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 7:42 AM
Subject: NICU admissions

Daar Friends:

Aileen writes: " The hospital I work for delivers 4000 babies per year and approximately 30% of those babies are admitted to our NICU."

What awful things are going on that 1/3 of babies have to go to intensive care?

Last night, I was at a hospital giving a talk to some staff, and I learned that the NICU supports the maternity unit. In other words, the NICU generates revenue.

And now, this morning, I hear this....

woried,
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI
craniosacral therapy practitioner
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
www.myspace.com/adonicalee

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