A neonatologist specializes in caring for premature babies and full-term newborn babies with injuries, illness, or birth defects. Neonatologists typically work in hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and collaborate with other healthcare providers, including obstetrician-gynecologists, pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, nurses, nutritionists, and social workers.
A neonatologist typically:
Examines the newborn baby and evaluates his or her medical history including the mom’s medical history before and during pregnancy
Provides primary healthcare services and immunizations in the hospital
Orders and interprets laboratory and imaging tests
Diagnoses and treats diseases and conditions affecting a newborn baby’s health
Assesses growth and development
Prescribes medications
Educates the baby’s parents or caretakers about wellness and disease prevention
Consults with other members of the patient’s medical and team
Provides ongoing neonatal care in the hospital NICU
Neonatologists may also be known by the following names: baby doctor, newborn pediatrician, newborn doctor, newborn intensive care doctor, and NICU doctor.
There are 150 specialists practicing Neonatal Medicine in Tennessee with an overall average rating of 3.8 stars. There are 11 hospitals in Tennessee with affiliated Neonatal Medicine specialists, including Baptist Memorial Hospital - Memphis, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and Methodist South Hospital.
