Computers in the NICU

Snapshot of VR Model of an NICU in the 1980s

Short movie of a 3-room NICU room with 30 beds in the 1980s, created from a VR model on a Macintosh ca. 1995. Note Sechrist ventilators in the first room, and only one shared computer terminal per room.

Web-Based Calculators

Extreme Prematurity Outcome Calculator (NICHD)
Bilirubin Management Guide at bilitool.org
Neonatology Calculators at MDApp
Neonatology Calculators at Pediatric OnCall
Adjusted Age Calculator at NICHD
Neonatal Resuscitation Drug Calculator at CEHO ED Outreach
NICU Tools from Dr. Michael Hewson, New Zealand
Quick Drip Calculator for neonates from CSMC (Javascript)
Quick IV Calculator for neonates from CSMC (Javascript)
Low Flow Oxygen FiO₂ Calculator by Dr. Michael Hewson, New Zealand
Clinical Calculators by Charles Hu
Neonatal Infusion Calculators by Denis Azzopardi
Clinical Calculators at Perinatology.com
Medical Calculators at GlobalRPh.com
Medical Calculators from Supermagnus Software
NICU Calculators from Starship Hospital, New Zealand
Neonatal Worksheet by Jubal John, Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne
Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis Calculator from Kaiser
Neonatal Resuscitation Drug Calculator from CHEO
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Drug Infusion Calculator from CHEO
Neonatal Seizure Drug Calculator from CHEO
Adjusted Age Calculator by Lucja Zaborowska MD
PediTools from Joseph Chou including growth calculators, growth charts, gestational age, and more
Newborn Weight Tool (NEWT) from Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
Neonatology Calculators and Algorithms from MDApp
Premie BiliRecs from Stanford
Clinical Decision Support Tools for the NICU from Stanford

Other Useful Calculators

Acid-Base Tutorial
Medical Algorithms Project
Neodosis (updated 8/27/2007) Calculators for Neonatology by Albert Balaguer (in Microsoft Excel format)
Bilirubin Management using AAP Guidelines [Spanish] by Albert Balaguer (in Microsoft Excel format)

Downloadable Growth Charts

Growth Chart for Ages 0-3 years in Excel
Growth Chart for Ages 2-20 years in Excel
Babson/Benda Growth Curve in Excel, from Rob Stavis

Systems and Products for NICU Care

Crib Notes
Neodata and Neonatal Notes Manager from Isoprime Corporation
PediNotes

Computer Applications at the Dawn of the Modern NICU Era

(These papers are from the Proceedings of the First National Conference on Perinatal Data Systems held at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in September 1980.)

Duncan RG and Pomerance JJ: Computer Assistance in the Delivery of Patient Care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Frayer WW: A Dedicated Minicomputer System for Information Management in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Heldt GP, Targett RC, McIlroy MB: A Microcomputer-Based Data Acquisition System for Physiologic Studies of the Newborn
Janik DS, Sharp EM: A Practical NICU Computer System – the Cetus System 100
Lindstrom DP, Rojas J, Cotton RB: Using Neonatal Data: Signal Processing and Historical Models
Lindstrom DP, Cotton RB: Computer-Assisted Neonatal Data Base Designed Primarily for Clinical Research
Perlstein PH, Edwards NK, Atherton HD, Hermansen MC: Computer-Assisted Environmental Control for Newborns
Poland RL, Cummings GD: Computer-Generated Neonatal Discharge Summary Letter

Miscellaneous Resources

COCIT – Council on Clinical Information Technology, American Academy of Pediatrics
Cochrane Neonatal
Neonatal Research Network (NRN)
Vermont-Oxford Network

Last Updated on 04/24/25