Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

As you welcome a new member into your family, we want to welcome you into ours.

If you have a preemie, a high-risk pregnancy or a newborn with critical medical needs, be assured that our UMass Memorial Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team uses innovation combined with compassion to treat the tiniest patients in the region.

In our relentless pursuit of healing, Our NICU has earned a national reputation for its family-centered care philosophy where families are an important part of their child's team.

Pediatric Inpatient Care

We know that children aren’t small adults. They have unique needs that need to be met. If your child is an inpatient at our UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center, you can be assured that our caregivers have special training in caring for infants, children and adolescents.

Pediatric Social Work

Injury and illness affect the entire family. Our UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center Pediatric Social Work Program helps you and your child cope with illness and with the adjustment to diagnosis and treatment.

Licensed pediatric social workers provide services based on the unique needs of your child and family.

Social Work Services We Provide

Our caring team of clinical social workers assists in many areas, including:

Child Life

Our certified child life specialists at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center play a crucial role in supporting children and families facing medical challenges. Our team focuses on the needs of pediatric patients and their families, aiming to reduce stress and anxiety associated with hospitalization and medical procedures.

What To Expect from Our Child Life Specialists:

Our team help helps patients navigate the hospital experience with greater resilience and understanding.

Family-centered Care Core Concepts

The caregivers at the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center follow family-centered care core concepts. These concepts guide us in providing the best care possible to you and your family. The core concepts of family-centered care empower families in the care of their children.

Family strengths

The family is the constant in the child's life. We support and empower family members as partners and decision-makers in their child's care and help them cope more confidently with their child's illness.

Helping Children Cope with Health Care Experiences

The following suggestions are provided to assist you in talking with your child about health care experiences. We hope these suggestions will help you prepare your child for an upcoming hospitalization or procedure and make the child's experience a little easier. For patients using services at the Children's Medical Center in Worcester, you may find child life specialists helpful.