Arizona Neonatology

About Our Practice

Our clinical team, consisting of neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and physician assistants, seeks to improve the standard for neonatal care through our partnerships with local hospitals.

Our mission:

Provide high quality maternal and newborn services to all mothers and newborns of Arizona and reduce morbidity and mortality
Provide consultation services to all primary care physicians
Provide educational opportunities

Arizona Neonatology is the neonatology practice serving the East Valley community that offers prenatal/neonatal consults. If your patient develops complications before their baby is born, our neonatologists are here to partner with you to ensure your patient and their baby receives the care they need during and after their pregnancy. Our practice partners with several different hospitals and look forward to serving your patients.

To refer, please fax: 602-610-9453 or call Banner Desert Medical Center at p: 480-412-5131 and ask to speak with the neonatologist on-call.

Services Offered

Neonatologist

A specialist within the medical field. They earned this designation by undergoing training in pediatrics and completing three years of additional training to specialize in the care of newborn infants needing intensive care. Many neonatologists participate in follow-up developmental pediatric programs as part of their training.
Blood Transfusion in Newborn

Process in which blood is given to a baby. This is a common need in premature babies and full-term babies born with health problems. A blood transfusion is a way to provide extra red blood cells (RBCs) to the baby. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and it is vital that the baby has a certain amount.
PICC Line
Umbilical Catheter

A thin tube that is placed in the body in order to draw out blood to be used for testing or to allow fluids and medicines to be given. This device serves as a passage that allows doctors and nurses to perform these functions as needed. An umbilical catheter is inserted into the umbilical cord in one of two ways; either into a vein (called an umbilical venous catheter or UVC) or into an artery (called an umbilical arterial catheter or UAC).

Conditions Treated

Prematurity
Air Leak Syndrome
Apnea of Prematurity

A condition in which a baby temporarily stops breathing while sleeping or resting. Many newborns have short pauses in their breathing (less than 20 seconds), but a baby is said to have apnea if he or she stops breathing for at least 20 seconds, has a slowed heart rate (bradycardia) or has a bluish color to the skin with a shorter pause in breathing. Periods of apnea may be accompanied by bradycardia and these events are called "spells" or "alarms."
Babies Born with Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

The amount of sugar in our blood, called blood sugar or blood glucose, is the fuel that keeps all of our body systems working. If this level dips too low, it is called hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can happen in any newborn, but some babies have a higher risk for it. Because a baby's body requires so much energy (sugar) after birth, low blood sugar usually occurs within the first few hours after birth. In general, the risk for low blood sugar in a healthy, full-term newborn declines shortly after birth. Yet, if blood sugar stays too low for too long without treatment, it can affect the brain. The effects can range from mild to severe, and may result in learning problems, vision problems and impaired development of motor skills and speech.
Brain Injury
Chronic Lung Disease

Also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), occurs if growth in parts of a baby's lungs are disrupted, altering the lung structure and function. CLD can lead to continued lung problems for some children. Because severe CLD can cause decreased oxygen to parts of the baby's body, it also can lead to problems with the baby's heart, and with hearing, motor skills, speech and learning.
Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a term used to describe a group of problems present at birth that affect the structure of the heart and/or the large vessels near the heart. There are many types of CHD. Some types may be detected before birth and, in some cases, may be treated before birth. Other types are not found until the baby is born, during childhood or in adulthood.
Congenital Malformations
Jaundice
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

A problem with a baby's eyes. The retina is a thin layer of tissue that covers the back portion of the eyeball. In babies born early, blood vessels still need to grow in the retina. In some babies, these vessels grow too fast and in a corkscrew shape. This process can cause bleeding and scarring. Scarring sometimes pulls the retina off the back of the eye. This can cause loss of sight or decreased vision.