The UNC Special Infant Care Clinic (SICC) provides a multidisciplinary approach to the developmental follow-up of high-risk infants from birth to 2 years of age. A team of physicians, nurse practitioners, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists provide comprehensive developmental evaluations and link infants to community services such as Early Childhood Intervention. Infants can also receive hearing, feeding and nutrition evaluations. The first appointment is usually scheduled at 6 months adjusted age. For high risk infants, such as those discharged on oxygen or with a tracheostomy, or with significant family support needs, providers may schedule the first appointment 1-3 months after discharge.
Please contact the UNC Hospitals Division of Neonatology at 984-974-2447 with questions.
The UNC Children’s Clinic in Chapel Hill can be reached at 984-974-1401. The UNC Children’s Clinic in Raleigh can be reached at 984-974-0500.
The Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health provides staff support to this clinic. Our care coordinator, Lori Carter, works with multiple specialists to coordinate appointments during each visit. She also provides follow-up after the visit to insure that families have received all necessary referrals.
The Special Infant Care Brochure has additional information about our services. The document describes the Flow of Infant Care.
SICC Criteria
- Infants with birth weight < 1250 grams or gestational age ≤ 32w0d weeks
- Grade III or IV IVH, PVL, hydrocephalus, meningitis
- Perinatal Asphyxia (umbilical pH < 7.0, abnormal EEG, HIE and/or whole body cooling)
- Severe CLD or airway anomalies: discharged home on oxygen or with a tracheostomy
- Infant with IUDE who require pharmacological intervention for NAS, complex social situations, and/or home hospice will be considered on individual basis
- Infant with major congenital heart disease or utilization of cardiac bypass during surgical repair
- Infant who required ECMO
- Hyperbilirubinemia requiring exchange transfusion
- Neurologic disorders, hyper or hypotonia, or seizures
- Genetic disorders associated with neurodevelopmental delays
- Congenital infections
- Hypothyroidism
- Other feeding difficulties requiring gastrostomy tube
- Other conditions that the team feels will place infant at high-risk for neurodevelopmental impairment
- Patients can be co-managed with Complex Care Clinic (medical home)
Expanded CNOC Criteria (Babies with Cardiac Issues who meet criteria for SICC). Critical CHD as defined by AHA:
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Pulmonary atresia
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
- Transposition of the great arteries
- Tricuspid atresia
- Truncus arteriosus
Additionally:
- cardiac surgery before 30 days of age (adjusted age < 44 weeks PMA)
- bypass
- syndromic
- cyanotic
- PICU referral
- catheterization before 1 month
