Services

The advanced medical expertise for which Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health North Hospital is known is now available to more children and families at IU Health North. The 170-bed hospital has 44 beds that are dedicated to the care of children.

Many of the medical specialties that are available at Riley Children's Hospital at IU Health are available at IU Health North Hospital, including:

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

As an affiliate of Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North provides comprehensive care for newborns and infants with medical or surgical problems. Our philosophy of care is family-based, ensuring that the best care is provided in the warmest, most personal manner.

All of our staff are dedicated to providing gentle, loving care for every baby. The Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is staffed 24 hours a day by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other caregivers who provide the most advanced care available. Other physician specialists in every area of pediatrics are also available around the clock. Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North's neonatologists (newborn specialists) and perinatologists (doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancies) work together with pediatric cardiologists, surgeons, neurologists, urologists, nurses and many others who are experts in the care of infants and children.

When a baby must stay in the hospital, the whole family can feel the strain, emotionally and financially. The NICU at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North offers a first for Indiana. Each room is private, which offers a quiet healing environment for critically ill newborns and ensures the experience for the parents and family is more comfortable. We also offer conjoining rooms for families of twins and multiples.

Parents are encouraged to talk with our staff about anything at any time, and to be with their child as much as possible.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North provides specialized services for critically ill children. The unit has eight patient rooms for children that are private, with plenty of space for the family to stay at the bedside around the clock. The PICU has a Pediatric intensivist available 24 hours a day. Supporting the intensivsts are a multidisciplinary team of skilled professionals (nurses, respiratory therapists, etc.) specialty, and sub-specialty physicians providing the highest quality care for patients and their families.

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North, a partner in the IU Health Partners system, utilizes the IU Health Lifeline helicopters providing air-medical transport in conjunction with Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health's own Neonatal/Pediatric Critical Care ground transport system. A transport team that is among the most experienced in the country, completing more than 1,000 transports a year provide the clinical expertise needed for stabilization and transport of critically ill or injured children.

Riley Hospital For Children at IU Health North Hospital Hematology/Oncology

An illness can be devastating at any age, but even more so to children who often have a difficult time dealing with feelings of anxiety and questions relating to why they are ill and when they will get better. The stress and strain that a child’s diagnosis of cancer or a blood disease can put on a family can sometimes feel overwhelming, but now there is hope.

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North Hospital Hematology/Oncology provides distinct individualized care that is concentrated on your child and family. This outstanding program focuses on care for the whole child – body, mind and spirit – during cancer treatment.

Our goal is to diagnose, treat and return your child and family back to a normal life as soon as possible. And, it is our promise to treat you with respect and offer comfort when needed. Your child deserves the best care, and now it’s available closer than ever.

Pediatric Inpatient Unit

The Pediatric unit has a Pediatric hospitalist on site for 12 hours each day as well as support from the Pediatric intensivist during the night time. Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North features a 16 bed pediatric unit with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and an infant/child security system utilized for all children. Comfortable family lounges and family sleep suites are also available for families of young children needing to have some quite time or time to spend with their children.

Pediatric Surgery

The pediatric general surgeons on the Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North staff have contributed to the field of pediatric surgery on a national and international basis. Through our affiliation with Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health we can boast physicians that have made contributions in areas of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), minimally invasive chest reconstruction (Nuss procedure), pediatric trauma, and pediatric oncology.

In total, our physicians have more than 900 journal articles and book chapters that have been published in the contemporary literature of pediatric surgery. This expertise is then carried over to the care of all patients, neonates, infants, children and adolescents alike. Together with a support staff of social workers, clinical nurse specialists and case managers, state-of-the-art care will be offered your child.

Areas of care include:

• Children with Stomach and Intestinal Disorders
• Neonatal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery of Children
• Children’s Cancer Surgery
• Hernias / Hydroceles / Undescended Testis
• Airway Endoscopy and Reconstruction

Pediatric Cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology services are provided by a team of highly skilled cardiologists. Consults are available 24 hours a day. Non-invasive procedures will be performed at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North.

Child Life

The Child Life Department works with the psychosocial and emotional needs of the children in the hospital. Our Child Life Specialists seek to minimize the stress and anxiety of a patient and his or her family during hospitalization, promote normal growth and development and provide emotional support.

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North has two activity rooms, a toddler/school room and a teen room. Each of these provides a safe place for the patients to “get away.” The activity room offers play which can allow freedom of choice, normalization, socialization, diversion and a chance to have fun. The teen activity room offers a variety of board games, computers for Internet use, a juke box and an arcade game. Each activity area is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pediatric Pre-Admission Tours

Having a surgery or procedure can be a challenging experience for you and your family - especially children. In an effort to reduce this anxiety, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North offers pre-admission tours to help you and your family prepare.

The tours are conducted by a pediatric registered nurse or Child Life specialist. The tours help ease the fears of the child and parents, by making them familiar with areas of the hospital that the child will spend time in, and by explaining the steps of the surgical procedure or hospitalization.

Your child will have an interactive experience with the facilities, equipment and personnel, in a positive, supported atmosphere. All family members are encouraged to attend. Pre-admission tours are given weekly, and are free of charge to patients and families. The tour will last 30 to 60 minutes. To schedule, please call 317.688.2419.

Internships

If you are a student interested in an internship with IU Health North Hospital's child life department, please download the application here, and mail to the address on the application. Thank you for your interest.

Pediatric Allergy

Currently, your child will receive a consultation for pediatric allergies at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North. Once the consultation is complete, the appropriate next steps will be taken to ensure that you child is given the best care possible.

Developmental Pediatrics

The Developmental Pediatrics Program at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North, provides evaluation and treatment for children who are at risk for developmental and feeding problems due to birth defects or other handicapping conditions. Our program brings together pediatric experts from many areas, who work closely with each family and with the child's primary care physician to provide a personalized program of care for each child.

An Expert Team Meets Each Child's Unique Needs

Birth defects and disabilities usually affect many different parts and functions of the child's body, creating the need for a highly individualized program of care. Our developmental pediatricians are specialists in the process of physical, mental and social development from infancy to young adulthood. They work as a team with many other pediatric specialists at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North to assure total care for each child.

The Newborn Follow-up Program provides continuing care for babies who have been patients in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, and who are at risk for developmental problems. Our team consists of developmental pediatricians, nurse practitioners, a neurologist, a psychologist, a social worker and a dietitian. Occupational, physical and speech therapists are available to assess the baby's needs and to consult as needed. The team works closely with the baby's primary care physician and assists with referrals or coordinating of care with other pediatric specialists.

Adolescent Medicine

Adolescence is the period of life between childhood and adulthood, and it is often a challenging time for youngsters and their families. This is a period of personality development and physical change, during which young people have many unique needs. Occasionally a physical, behavioral or emotional problem may persist or be difficult to solve. The Adolescent Health Program of Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North addresses these needs, and provides a comprehensive range of health-related services for young people 11 through 24 years of age.

A Special Team for Adolescent Health

Our interdisciplinary health team is specially trained in evaluating and caring for the problems of adolescents. Our physicians, pediatricians and internists have received additional specialty training in adolescent medicine. The care team also includes nurses and nurse practitioners, psychologists, dietitians, and social workers. Our approach is to provide immediate attention to the problem and to help each young person and family adopt healthy life-styles and coping mechanisms for the long term.

When to Get Help for Your Child

As a parent or other guardian, you may seek medical help for an adolescent because you are worried about behavior, physical symptoms or some emotional difficulties. Concerns or complaints about the way a child feels or acts should never be ignored. We suggest that you (or your child) first speak with your family physician or pediatrician. Then, if efforts to solve the problem are not successful, or if you are not able to find the professional help you need, you may call our program directly or ask your doctor for a referral.

The Adolescent Health Program is dedicated to any problem in an adolescent which persists or requires more specialized treatment than is usually available at the primary care level. Therefore, the range of services provided is quite broad and includes treatment for physical, emotional and behavioral problems:

• Acute health problems
• Chronic health problems which do not respond to treatment
• Reproductive health care including gynecological and menstrual problems, family planning, and prevention
• Evaluation and treatment of eating disorders and nutritional problems, including obesity and diabetes
• Special programs for older adolescents and young adults with diabetes
• Individual and group counseling for depression, stress, alcohol, and family problems

Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat

Currently, your child will receive a consultation for pediatric ear, nose and throat conditions at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North. Once the consultation is complete, the appropriate next steps will be taken to ensure that you child is given the best care possible.

Pediatric Plastic Surgery

Currently, your child will receive a consultation for pediatric plastic surgery at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North. Once the consultation is complete, the appropriate next steps will be taken to ensure that you child is given the best care possible.

Pediatric Infectious Diseases

With millions of people around the world living with infectious diseases, it is important to understand how this may fit into your child’s health. While the threat of infectious diseases will be small for most children, those who have been adopted from foreign countries are at much higher risk.

Currently, your child will receive a consultation for pediatric infectious disease at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North. Once the consultation is complete, the appropriate next steps will be taken to ensure that you child is given the best care possible.

Pediatric Orthopedics

Pediatric Orthopedics can offer surgical and rehabilitation care for children with musculoskeletal conditions including:

• Scoliosis
• Neuromuscular Conditions
• Cerebral Palsy
• Spina Bifida
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Bone Dysplasias
• Achondroplasia
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Trauma and Sports Injuries
• Deformity
• Congenital Conditions
• Hip Dysplasia
• Limb Deficiency
• Musculoskeletal Tumors

Pediatric Sleep Lab

The Pediatric Sleep Lab at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North helps meet the growing demand for sleep study by adding to beds to the IU Health System. A partner of the Children's Sleep Disorders Center at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North we are Indiana's only pediatric sleep center. We specialize in evaluating children ranging in age from premature newborns to 18-years-old.

The physical and emotional needs of children are very different from those of adults. This is especially true in the area of sleep disorders, and an adult approach to evaluating and treating sleep problems is often not appropriate or successful for children.

All of our resources at the Children's Sleep Disorders Center are focused on meeting children's unique needs. Our entire staff of physicians, nurses and technicians are knowledgeable in pediatric care. Our facilities and equipment are scaled and designed with children's needs in mind. Our aim is to work closely with each child's regular physician to help ensure expert evaluation and the most appropriate and successful treatment.

Meeting the Needs of Children

The Children's Sleep Disorders Center has provided expert evaluations since 1984. Our state-of-the-art testing facility is designed especially for children. The latest computerized equipment permits a wider variety of measurements than is typically available in adult sleep labs.

Equally important, the Center provides a comfortable, non-threatening atmosphere to enhance natural sleep and the effectiveness of the studies. Parents may stay overnight nearby, and technicians monitor each child continuously, providing one-on-one bedside care whenever needed for physical or emotional support.

Our team of caregivers includes pediatric physician specialists in many areas. A pediatric pulmonologist, behavioral pediatrician, neurologist, psychiatrist, pediatric otolaryngologist, pediatric plastic surgeon, pediatric urologist, and a specialist in dysmorphology and developmental pediatrics are available to consult with any patient as needed.

Unlike adults, children with sleep disorders sometimes need immediate or emergency care. Because the Center is located in Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North, we can offer the extra reassurance of having pediatric physician specialists immediately available around the clock.

Common Sleep Disorders

The four most common sleep disorders are sleeplessness, arousal disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. The causes for these problems are sometimes genetic, sometimes a result of environmental factors, and sometimes are caused by a combination of the two. Some sleep disorders such as sleep talking and "night terrors" are often not serious. But others, such as obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy and sleepwalking, can be.

Problems of sleeplessness usually are characterized by a child's refusal to sleep as much, where, or when he should. Treatment usually consists of determining the cause of the problems and recommending various techniques which are tailored to the child and family.

Sleepwalking, talking and night terrors are called "disorders of arousal" and are most common between the ages of 4 and 12 years. Although the child is up and moving, he is not mentally awake and is usually unaware of what he is doing. About 75 percent of sleep walkers injure themselves during these episodes. Education, reassurance and good sleep habits can help these problems, which usually get better with age. Medication is rarely needed.

Obstruction of the airways is more serious and can lead to snoring and sleep apnea (blocked breathing passages). Children with sleep apnea do not breathe properly during sleep and may no get enough oxygen. They may snore or have restless sleep followed by a breathless pause and then a snort or gasp. Sleep apnea can lead to heart failure, learning problems, and rarely, sudden death. Children at higher than average risk include those born with nose, face and mouth deformities, and those who have lung disease, cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, frequent infections of the tonsils and adenoids, or are extremely overweight. Treatments include surgery for removing the tonsils and adenoids, and/or a nose mask with air pressure.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming sleepiness in which the child may fall asleep suddenly many times during the day. Other symptoms include fatigue, irritability, depression and reduced concentration, hallucinations just before or after sleep, and sudden loss of muscle control when emotions are strong. Children with narcolepsy may be perceived as lazy, resulting in problems with self-esteem. Treatment may include scheduled naps, medications and good sleep habits.

Pulmonology/Pediatric Asthma

The pediatric pulmonologists at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North provide diagnosis and treatment of infants, children and adolescents with acute and chronic respiratory disease. Our research efforts in the treatment of asthma allow us to offer selected patients the latest medications before they are available to the public.

Pediatric pulmonologists are physicians who specialize in caring for children with breathing disorders of all kinds. We provide thorough evaluation, then design a treatment and follow-up program to meet the needs of each child. The kinds of problems treated include asthma, wheezing, coughing, chest pain, viral respiratory infections, structural abnormalities in the respiratory system, and chronic lung disease in premature infants. Special programs are offered for children and adults with cystic fibrosis and for children with apnea (stopping breathing). Our Children's Sleep Disorder Center offers state-of-the-art evaluation of sleep disorders of all kinds. It is the only such center in Indiana and is nationally recognized.

We work closely with families and other health care professionals to coordinate home care planing for children who need ventilators, monitoring, supplemental oxygen or private duty nursing care. Our home care programs not only provide sophisticated technology in the home settings, but also offer 24-hour support from our pediatric pulmonologists, respiratory therapists and nurse specialists.

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North's REACT Program

The Department of Pediatrics at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North offers a unique program of pediatric asthma care through the Emergency Department at IU Health North with the support of the Indiana State Aerie & Auxiliary Fraternal Order of Eagles. Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North Emergency Asthma Care and Teaching (REACT) services focus on asthma education.

An asthma specialist will be in the Emergency Services at IU Health North Monday through Friday from 6 pm - 10 pm to speak with parents while their child receives medical care for the asthma attack. After these hours and on weekends, parents will receive asthma education through a short video they will watch in the Emergency Department exam room.

Spotlight On: Asthma

Asthma is the leading cause of school absences and pediatric hospital stays. It can be difficult to recognize because asthmatic children may be able to breathe normally most of the time. But respiratory problems, like coughing during exercise, can be a sign your child may be asthmatic. Take the following quiz to find out if your child might have undiagnosed asthma:

1. Does your child have colds that last an unusually long time or go to their chest?
2. Does your child cough themselves out of sleep when they have colds?
3. Does your child cough hard enough to interrupt them when exercising?
4. Has your child had pneumonia more than twice?
5. Have you ever heard your child wheeze?
6. Has your child ever been treated for eczema?
7. Is there a family history of asthma (biological mother or father)?
8. Does your child have a runny nose all the time, even without a cold?

If you answered yes to two or more questions, talk to your pediatrician about your child’s symptoms.

Endocrinology/Diabetes

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North provides comprehensive services for infants, children, and adolescents with diseases or disorders of the endocrine glands, such as thyroid disease or diabetes. In addition to evaluation and treatment, an important part of our program is providing extensive educational and support services for our patients and their families.

Our physicians are board certified in pediatrics and have received additional, subspecialty training in pediatric endocrinology/diabetology. Our team also includes pediatric nurse specialists, dietitians and a social worker. Less visible to patients, but just as important, our research teams conduct various studies, which continually search for ways to improve diagnosis and treatment of endocrine and diabetic disorders.

Our staff is experienced in treating all endocrine problems of infancy, childhood and adolescence. These include growth disorders, Turner's syndrome, ambiguous genitalia, delayed and precocious sexual development, goiters, congenital and acquired disorders of thyroid function, hypoglycemia, disorders of calcium metabolism, adrenal disorders, diabetes insipidus and anterior pituitary dysfunction.

Each child's treatment plan is individualized to the child's and family's unique needs. Depending on the problem, children may be treated either as inpatients at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North or as outpatients. In either case, our team works closely with the child's referring physician and offers specialized educational services to support both patient and family.

Children who have just been diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are cared for in Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North. Each child receives a thorough medical evaluation by a multidisciplinary care team, which includes a physician, nurse practitioner, dietitian and social worker. This team also works closely with the family to teach the basic skills they need to manage the disease after they leave the hospital. We encourage the family’s participation in the care of their child from the beginning. After the child leaves the hospital, the family's nurse practitioner follows up by phone, and then the family begins our ADAPT (Ambulatory Diabetes Adjustment Program for Treatment) program.

Comprehensive outpatient services for children and adolescents with diabetes are also provided. We see these children every three to four months for a comprehensive evaluation of their metabolic control. At each visit, the child will be seen by his or her physician, nurse practitioner and also, frequently, by a dietitian or social worker as needed. The nurse then follows up with the family between visits as needed to adjust insulin or discuss laboratory results.

Gastroenterology

The pediatric gastroenterologists of Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North offer complete evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for children with illnesses of the digestive tract, liver and pancreas. Our pediatric team also develops the guidelines for treatment of children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease and chronic liver disease.

Nephrology/Kidney Disease

Children at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health North have access to the state's only comprehensive evaluation and treatment services for children with kidney disease or kidney failure. Our pediatric nephrologists and urologists work together to provide highly specialized and expert care.

Some of the conditions and diseases evaluated and treated by our pediatric nephrologists include the following:

• Acute and chronic kidney failure
• Blood in the urine
• Protein in the urine
• High blood pressure
• Urinary tract infections
• Structural abnormalities of the kidneys and lower urinary tract
• Kidney Stones
• Bedwetting