Dr. Duan Tao, CMO of Am-Sino Healthcare, emphasizes the critical role of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in ensuring obstetric safety. At the Shanghai Am-Sino Maternity and Child Hospital, a collaborative mechanism between obstetrics and neonatology has been established to facilitate swift mobilization of resources at crucial moments during delivery. By providing comprehensive safety assurances for mothers and newborns, risks during the critical stages of childbirth are minimised, ensuring the well-being of both mother and child.
Director Hu Yong, head of the Neonatology Department, points out that with the increasing age of people having babies, the incidence of preterm births, low birth weight infants, and common neonatal conditions (such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, hypoglycemia, and hemolytic disease of the newborn) is rising annually. These conditions often occur during the "golden hour", but are still prevalent during the first seven days post-birth, making the NICU's role vital in safeguarding the health and safety of newborns.
Grand Opening of the Newborn Unit & NICU
On January 23, 2025, American-Sino Women’s and Children’s Hospital held a ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of its newly upgraded Newborn Unit and NICU.
The units, located on the 9th floor, makes American-Sino Women’s and Children’s Hospital one of the few private medical institutions in Shanghai that offers both obstetric and NICU services. With its advanced medical facilities and professional expertise, the hospital is equipped to efficiently and skilfully respond to critical care situations, ensuring that every small life receives meticulous care.
The NICU Care Team
The NICU team consists of experienced Neonatologists and neonatal nurses who provide 24/7 individualized monitoring and care. Team members regularly participate in neonatal emergency skills training to ensure rapid and effective responses to critical situations.
Advanced Medical Facilities
The NICU features eight neonatal monitoring beds equipped with a full suite of advanced medical devices, including multi-functional 24-hour continuous monitors, neonatal ventilators for respiratory support, incubators to promote the development in a controlled temperature environment, and advanced phototherapy units to treat neonatal jaundice.
Additionally, the NICU has specialized isolation rooms with controlled temperature and humidity, dedicated to protecting the most critically ill newborns.
Strict Environmental Safety Management
The facility ensures 24-hour clean air supply and regulates temperature and humidity to meet the needs of newborns. Layouts comply with infection control standards, and all medical staff undergo specialized training in infection control to ensure safety.
Parents are able to be with their infants, promoting bonding and reducing the psychological impact of separation, however this is managed under the strict guidance of hygiene and infection control protocols.
Green Channel for High-level Support
As with all private NICU, there sometimes comes occasions when the needs of the newborn require transfer to the highest level NICUs in Shanghai. American-Sino Women’s and Children’s Hospital have well- established “green channel” to coordinate and facilitate this transfer, ensuring timely and adequate medical support in extreme emergencies.
Family Support
The grand opening of the upgraded Newborn Unit and NICU signifies a new development phase for the Am-Sino Healthcare Neonatology Department. For high-risk newborns requiring intensive care, the department will focus on an integrated management model that encompasses a family-centered framework.
Family-Centered Rooms
Promoting rooming-in (infant health permitting), allowing parents to stay with their babies 24/7. Under nursing guidance, family members can actively participate in the care and nurturing of their newborns
Kangaroo Care
Promoting skin-to-skin contact, whereby infants are placed on their parent's bare chest. This not only fosters temperature regulation and emotional connection, research shows that it improves the health outcome for infants.
Breastfeeding Support
Actively assisting and guiding mothers in breastfeeding (for babies that can manage it), or advising mothers in providing pumped breastmilk for their babies. Human milk is the optimal nutrition for babies, providing immunological support and better health outcomes, especially in the NICU setting.
Continuous Monitoring and Communication
Regularly monitoring infant to adjust plans as needed, while keeping parents informed of the changes.
Parenting Education
Providing training for parents on the ongoing care, treatment, and feeding of their infants.
