Neonatal Intensive Care

The question is always in the back of your mind—what if something goes wrong? Community has you covered. Thousands of babies have started life in the safe, caring environment of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Community Health Network.

Flu Restrictions Begin October 13, 2025

Please review visitation guidelines that apply while flu restrictions are in place. Thank you for helping us keep your infant safe.

No visitors under age 18 unless a parent (this includes siblings).
Visitors are limited to the patient’s immediate family or as identified by the parent.
No more than two visitors at a time per patient.
Visitors must wear masks in patient rooms when requested.
Those with respiratory symptoms may not visit.

We Specialize in Your Baby’s Health

Every Community NICU is designed to be exceptionally sensitive to the needs of infants and families. No matter where you deliver within our network, you’ll have access to:

Speech, occupational and physical therapists available to assist with developmental care of at-risk newborns
Lactation consultants available every day of the week
Robust case management programs, with social workers dedicated to Maternity and NICU departments

While all of our hospitals have achieved a Level II NICU designation, Community Hospital East and Community Hospital North offer Level III care for infants with the highest needs due to complex or severe illness. We offer easy transfer to Community Hospitals East or North should the need arise for your baby.

Explore the NICU options at our hospitals below.

Community Hospital Anderson

NICU Highlights

Level II NICU
Six beds, including one isolation room
Pediatricians available 24/7 with a pediatric hospitalist that rounds on all infants daily
Access to neonatologists from Riley Hospital for Children
Occupational, physical and speech therapists available via consultation
Lactation consultants available seven days a week
Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria

Recognitions

Gold Certified in Safe Sleep
Baby Friendly Certification
Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services

Community Hospital East

NICU Highlights

Level III NICU, caring for babies born at 28 weeks gestational age and greater
20 beds, including two flexible rooms that can be used as twin rooms or mother and baby suites in which a recovering mother can stay in the same room with her NICU baby
24/7 access to in-house specialists:
- Riley neonatologists
- Riley neonatal nurse practitioners
- NICU respiratory therapists
- Riley specialists available via consultation
Dedicated social worker for the maternity and NICU departments
Lactation consultants available seven days a week
Occupational, physical and speech therapists available to assist with developmental care of at-risk newborns
The most advanced monitoring and communications systems available:
- Angel Eye® camera systems, which allow parents to see their baby while offsite via web or mobile app
- Noise-sensing lights remind visitors and staff to keep noise levels down for babies requiring low stimulation
- Hardwired cardiac monitoring
- Hardwired monitoring for neuro testing
Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria

Recognitions

Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded each year, 2020-2025, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
CHE named Best Hospital in Indiana by Newsweek in 2025.
Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, 2021 and 2024, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services

Community Hospital North

NICU Highlights

Level III NICU
48 beds, including 42 private suites
24/7 access to in-house specialists:
- Riley neonatologists
- Riley neonatal nurse practitioners
- NICU respiratory therapists
- Riley specialists available via consultation
Dedicated NICU social worker
Clinical psychologist for parents of NICU patients
Lactation consultants available seven days a week
Occupational, physical and speech therapists available to assist with developmental care of at-risk newborns
The most advanced monitoring and communications systems available:
- Angel Eye® camera systems, which allow parents to see their baby while offsite via web or mobile app
- Heat, humidity and noise controls that reduce stress and enhance infant biological rhythms
- Noise-sensing lights remind visitors and staff to keep noise levels down for babies requiring low stimulation
- Hardwired cardiac monitoring
- Hardwired monitoring for neuro testing
Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria
NICU developmental follow-up clinic for those who meet criteria

Recognitions

Designated as one of Indiana’s Perinatal Centers
"Best place to deliver a baby" from IndyStar 2020
Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services

Community Hospital South

NICU Highlights

Level II NICU
10 beds, including 1 private isolation room
24/7 access to in-house specialists:
- Pediatric hospitalists
Access to neonatologists from Riley Hospital for Children
Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapists available to assist with developmental care of at-risk newborns
Robust social work and case management program
Lactation consultants available 7 days a week
Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria

Recognitions

Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services

Community Howard Regional Health

NICU Highlights

Level II NICU
Six beds, including one private isolation room
Pediatricians available 24/7 with a pediatric hospitalist that rounds on all infants daily
Access to neonatologists from Riley Hospital for Children
Occupational, physical and speech therapists available via consultation
Lactation consultants available on weekdays
Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers, breast pumps and milk warmers
Donor milk program for babies that meet criteria

Recognitions

Indiana Hospital Association INspire Hospital of Distinction awarded in 2020, recognizing exemplary programs promoting health and safety of mothers and babies
Care Award received from International Board of Lactation Consultants in 2019, recognizing exemplary comprehensive lactation services

Big Support for Little Miracles

You can count on us to compassionately respond to the individual needs of your baby and family.

The most common need of a newborn in newborn intensive care is respiratory support due to prematurity. We provide ventilator and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) support as well as intravenous nutrition, central and peripheral lines, oxygen therapy, antibiotics and phototherapy.

In newborn intensive care, parents are active participants in their infant’s care through:

Kangaroo care (skin to skin contact between infants and parents).
Touch/massage therapy and developmental care as a way to nurture the newborns and to promote parental bonding.

Breastfeeding is important for babies in a NICU:

If your baby is in neonatal intensive care, a lactation (breastfeeding) consultant is available to you even after you have gone home.
Breast pumps are available in the NICU for your convenience.