Patient Education

When It's Time to Take Your Baby Home

The Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine is committed to establishing a seamless transition for your baby when leaving the hospital for home. Long before discharge our staff begins to help prepare the family. Our social service staff and discharge manager is in close contact with the family during the baby's hospitalization. At the time of discharge, the family is well versed in the care of their baby. Discharge summaries to transfer information to the baby's pediatrician or follow-up physicians are sent out immediately. We also set up at home nursing care and equipment if needed. Follow-up appointments are made for the family before discharge.

A special service to our families is the Neonatal Medicine Follow-up Clinic at Cohen Children's Medical Center (718/516-470-3436) or at North Shore University Hospital (516-562-4665). For infants who need specialized follow-up, there are clinics on Tuesday mornings at Cohen's Children's Medical Center and Wednesday afternoons at North Shore University Hospital. Parents of recently discharged infants have full access to our NICU services at any time if they have questions after returning home with their baby. Dorothy Molloy RNC (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Medical Clinic Coordinator at Cohen's - 718/516-470-3436) provides an outstanding proactive liaison service for the transition home.

Another special service to our patients and their families is the Neurodevelopmental Follow-up Clinic (516-802-6101). We may refer you to this clinic if we feel your baby needs close follow-up to be sure milestones in physical and mental activities are met or to intervene early with physical or rehabilitation therapy to prevent or minimize potential disabilities.

As your child grows and develops, if there is ever a time you need a referral or guidance, please do not hesitate to call our main division offices Cohen Children's Medical Center (718/516-470-3440 or at North Shore University Hospital at (516-562-4665). In addition, you can always call 1-888-321-DOCS for referral services.