The level of care for newborns at Parma Community General Hospital has just been enhanced through access to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital certified neonatal nurse practitioners, who will care for newborns with transitional or serious medical issues in the special care nursery. 

These specially trained and certified advanced practice nurses work under the oversight of a UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s neonatologist to accelerate the coordination of care for babies with special needs. When necessary, babies will be transported to a higher level of care at UH Rainbow’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – currently ranked #4 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Parma Hospital continues to have an obstetrician in the unit at all times to handle emergencies. The difference is that babies born with special needs will no longer need to be evaluated by a pediatrician before an advanced level of care can be initiated.

Tina Bowker, RN, manager of Parma Hospital’s Small Wonders Maternity Center, says this news should be reassuring to expectant mothers who deliver prematurely or who have newborns with unexpected special needs. Maternity staff are trained and educated by these neonatal nurse practitioners in post-delivery care of higher-risk babies.

“Our nurses will remain hands-on in the care of our newborns, but this oversight by neonatal specialists enriches their competencies,” Bowker said. 

Not all pediatricians are trained or experienced in neonatology.

 “At Parma Hospital, we do not intentionally deliver babies under 35 weeks, but occasionally that happens,” said Diane Butler, MD, chairman of Parma Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics. “This is a first responder service that can be initiated by an obstetrician or a nurse who perceives that an infant in the nursery is critically ill. This coverage will increase the quality of health care we provide.”

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