Stanford Affiliation with NICU
The Norman P. Andresen, MD Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Salinas Valley Health has had a strong affiliation with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health since the NICU's opening in January 2001. Robert Castro, MD, Salinas Valley Health NICU Director, Clinical Professor, Stanford School of Medicine and Neonatologist, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, lives and practices in the Salinas area.
Each premature or seriously ill infant patient in our NICU has his or her own set of medical needs that sometimes require the participation of specialists in Pediatric Cardiology. Salinas Valley Health and Stanford University are now linked via a high-speed audio/video network. This link enables our Neonatologists to securely transmit the results of an infant's echocardiogram to a pediatric cardiologist at Stanford. With two-way, real-time video and audio communications, the physicians confer on the best course of care for each tiny patient.
Our Level III nursery allows us to care for the most critically ill babies, including those who are premature, have a very low birth weight or are medically fragile. The skill and experience of our Neonatologists, our state-of-the-art facilities and technological capabilities, and our affiliation with Stanford Medicine Children's Health means that more families can receive care for their infants while staying close to home.
Salinas Valley Health provides Level III Newborn Intensive Care and is the only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Monterey County providing minimally invasive interventions helping babies with premature lung disease breathe easier. Our NICU allows our team to care for the most critically ill babies, including premature and low birth weight infants. The skill and experience of our neonatologists, access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology, and affiliation with Stanford Medicine Children’s Hospital means that more families can receive quality healthcare for their babies while staying close to home.
Proud VON Member
Salinas Valley Health has been a member of Vermont Oxford Network (VON) since 2002, a worldwide community dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and value of care for newborn infants and families. VON, a nonprofit collaboration, facilitates the world’s largest databases of practices and outcomes for neonatal care and supports data-driven quality improvement, education, and research. Through participation in a VON database, Salinas Valley Health receives benchmarking reports to identify local quality improvement initiatives with the goal of providing ever-improving care for infants and families.
Protecting Children Against RSV
Understanding RSV
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is the leading cause of severe respiratory illness and medical center visits in newborns and children. All newborns – especially those born before 37 weeks – are at a high risk.
Recognizing the Symptoms
- Runny nose
- Decrease in appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
What You Can Do to Keep Kids Safe
Get the RSV Vaccine: Currently available for high-risk populations.
Wear a Mask: This protects both you and your child.
Stay Away if Sick: Keep a safe distance to avoid transmission.
Wash Your Hands: Always, and teach your kids to do the same.
Get the Flu Vaccine: This lessens the risk of co-infections.
Please contact your healthcare provider if you or your child are experiencing worsening symptoms.
For in-depth information on RSV transmission, treatment and prevention, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses Nirsevimab for all infants as a preventive measure against RSV.
