Neonatology

When it comes to caring for babies who are seriously ill, have critical needs, or are born prematurely, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cooper University Health Care offers the most advanced level of care possible to families throughout South Jersey. 

Cooper is home to South Jersey’s highest Level III NICU, as designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This means we are equipped and staffed to care for the most fragile and critically ill infants, including those with: 

• Prematurity-related complications
• Respiratory, neurologic, immunologic, metabolic, or birth disorders
• Surgical problems  

As the region's most experienced NICU team, our board-certified neonatologists provide 24/7, in-house care supported by specialists across nearly every pediatric discipline. Families receive the same level of expert, advanced NICU care offered by major hospitals in Philadelphia but provided closer to their home. 

Each year, Cooper provide advanced care for hundreds of critically ill newborns and premature infants, bringing state-of-the-art infant and newborn care and surgical support close to home. 

Comprehensive Care Team

To meet the unique needs of each baby in the NICU, Cooper’s comprehensive level of care extends well beyond our highly trained and board-certified physicians and includes: 

• Nurse practitioners
• Nurses
• Respiratory therapists
• Pharmacists
• Nutritionists
• Speech-language pathologists
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists 

Care may also involve developmental specialists, neonatal therapists, and care coordinators dedicated to supporting your baby's growth, comfort, and long-term developmental needs. Our approach ensures that every aspect of a baby’s health is carefully monitored and supported.  

Access to Pediatric and Maternal Experts

Cooper’s NICU is unique in the comprehensive continuum of care offered across all pediatric subspecialties as well as for mothers who see experts in our Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program. The integrated approach supports seamless care before, during, and after deliver for newborns with complex needs. 

The Center for Fetal Care at the Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper provides specialized support for women and families facing complex fetal conditions. Working closely with Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, Pediatric Surgery, and the NICU, the Center helps ensure coordinated delivery planning and immediate access to advanced neonatal care when needed.

The NICU offers seamless access to experts in: 

• Cleft lip/palate
• Developmental therapies
• Feeding therapy
• Genetics
• Hemangiomas
• Maternal conditions
• Neurosurgery
• Nephrology 
• Occupational therapy
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopaedics
• Otolaryngology (ENT)
• Pediatric cardiology
• Pediatric endocrinology
• Pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
• Pediatric hematology
• Pediatric infectious diseases
• Pediatric neurology
• Pediatric pulmonary medicine
• Pediatric surgery
• Physical therapy

Ongoing Support Through the Neonatal Follow-up Clinic

The comprehensive level of care provided by Cooper’s specialists continues even after a baby is discharged from the NICU. Through Cooper’s Neonatal Follow-up Clinic ("Bright Beginnings"), our neonatologists and specialists continue to care for babies in cooperation with each family’s pediatrician. 

Support for NICU Families

We understand that having a baby in the NICU is emotionally and physically challenging. Cooper provides a range of services to support your family during this time: 

• Behavioral Medicine – Our team offers emotional and psychological support during your baby’s hospitalization and afterward in our Neonatal Follow-up Clinic.
• Social Work – We help families manage support systems, financial and insurance arrangements, and even housing needs.
• Patient and Family Advisory Council – Helps guide improvement to NICU services and ensures care remains respectful, responsive, and centered on each family's needs.
• Prescription program – Through a dedicated grant, Cooper is able to assist families who need help affording their baby's medications after discharge.
• Ronald McDonald Family waiting room – A quiet space for NICU families to rest, with snacks and beverages provided and restrooms nearby.
• Pastoral care – Chaplains are available by request to offer prayers and spiritual support.
• Security and safety – Our NICU is a secured, locked unit within the hospital, monitored by our hospital security team. 
• Lactation support – Lactation consultants are available to assist with breastfeeding and any related challenges.   

Research and Education

In addition to their expertise and leading-edge approach to diagnosing, treating, and caring for the most fragile babies in South Jersey, Cooper’s neonatologists are at the forefront of state-of-the-art research into neonatal diseases and developmental lung conditions – particularly bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the most common chronic lung disease in infants. 

Cooper is also a key site for education and training, helping to prepare the next generation of neonatal care providers. Cooper’s NICU is one of only three sites that are part of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Fellowship Program that trains tomorrow’s neonatologists. 

Clare's Cupboard

Clare’s Cupboard provides basic infant supplies to families served by Cooper University Hospital. The families who are helped have limited or no financial resources to purchase the most basic items like formula, diapers, clothing, and other essentials. 

The Social Work department helps families identify all available sources of support. When those sources of assistance have been used or are delayed, Clare's Cupboard fills the gaps, with 100% of all donations going directly to infants and families in need.  

Looking Ahead

Cooper is currently building a new patient tower in Camden – part of a major systemwide expansion – that will include a next-generation NICU with private rooms and the latest neonatal technology. This investment will expand family amenities, women's services, surgical capacity, and emergency preparedness, ensuring continued excellence in care for newborns and families across the region.