Neonatal Intensive Care

The Northern Alberta Neonatal Intensive Care Program at the Royal Alexandra Hospital site is one of the foremost units of its type in Canada. The Unit specializes in the care of seriously ill or premature infants, low birth weight babies - some weighing less than 1000 grams - and infants with severe complications or breathing problems.

Each year approximately 1,100 infants from throughout the Capital Health Region, northern BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories are cared for at the NICU. The Unit provides service to the regional High-Risk Obstetrical Unit also located at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

• Many different health care providers work together to provide comprehensive care and each discipline relies on the most current research available. The neonatal care team strives to create an environment that is supportive of the growth and well-being of their tiny patients. Involvement of the family is critical, and Program is managed in keeping with the philosophy of family-centered care.

• With the completion of renovations in 2001, the NICU is a state-of-the-art facility that incorporates the latest evidence-based environmental design recommendations, including those for light and sound levels.

• The NICU's advanced systems provide detailed, up-to-the-minute information so that caregivers can determine the best possible therapy and closely monitor the progress of each tiny patient.