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The NIDCAP Method
Israel's only official training center, providing individualized care that mimics the womb environment to reduce stress and promote optimal brain development for premature infants.
Israel's Only NIDCAP Training Center
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Our mission is to bridge the gap between intensive medical intervention and the natural developmental needs of the newborn — involving parents as equal partners in the healing journey.
Israel's Only NIDCAP Training Center
NIDCAP Certified 2013
Family-Centered Care
Overview
Three Pillars of Care
We create an environment where premature infants can thrive both medically and developmentally — supported by the NIDCAP gold standard, a family-partnership approach, and individualized developmental care.
NIDCAP
Gold Standard Care
Family
Partnership Approach
Development
Individualized Care
Our Mission
To bridge the gap between intensive medical intervention and the natural developmental needs of the newborn.
We involve parents as equal partners in the healing journey, creating an environment where premature infants can thrive both medically and developmentally.
Excellence
Excellence in Neonatal Care
Meir Medical Center is home to the only official NIDCAP training center in Israel. This gold-standard approach focuses on reducing environmental stress for preemies — such as light and noise — to mimic the womb and promote optimal brain development and long-term health outcomes.
2013
NIDCAP Certified
#1
Only NIDCAP Center in Israel
500+
Babies Annually
Programs
Unique Care Programs
Specialized programs that integrate developmental care, family support, and comprehensive follow-up.
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The Wall of Hope
A visual journey showcasing our NICU graduates, providing inspiration and strength to families during their stay in the unit.
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The Milky Way Project
A specialized, collaborative program designed to promote and support breastfeeding and breast milk usage for premature babies.
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Multidisciplinary Follow-up
Comprehensive care that continues long after discharge, ensuring every child reaches their full potential through coordinated support from multiple specialists.
From the Director
"Our mission is to bridge the gap between intensive medical intervention and the natural developmental needs of the newborn, involving parents as equal partners in the healing journey."
— Prof. Sofia Bauer-Rusek, Director of the Neonatal Department & NICU
Leadership
Meet the Director
Prof. Sofia Bauer-Rusek
Director, Neonatal Department & NICU | Meir Medical Center
NIDCAP Pioneer
Under Prof. Bauer-Rusek's leadership, the department has become the national cornerstone for NIDCAP (Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program) training, emphasizing a unique approach that views the infant's development as inseparable from their medical treatment. She is a passionate advocate for family-centered care, ensuring that parents are integrated as essential partners in the healing and developmental journey of their newborns.