LITTLETON, Colo., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Littleton Adventist Hospital recently completed a $2.5 million expansion of its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The new unit combines advanced technology with a healing environment created especially for high-risk newborns and their families. Staffed around the clock by a team of highly skilled professionals, Littleton Adventist Hospital’s Level III NICU provides the most extensive level of critical care available in south metro Denver.
“This expansion fuses the best of high-tech equipment with expertise in neuro-developmental care and a ‘family-centered wellness’ approach,” said Angela Pollock, NICU nurse manager. “It’s all designed to assist the entire family through this difficult period and provide a healing sanctuary for family and baby.”
One way the new NICU is ensuring a developmentally supportive environment is by replacing the unit’s nine bassinets with 14 state-of-the-art infant warming isolettes.
“Many of our premature newborns have difficulty coping with even the slightest stimulation because they have not had the opportunity to fully develop in the womb,” said Pollock. “Our new isolettes facilitate a minimal stimulation environment and enable our newborns to utilize one warming system throughout their critical period.” Cycled and minimal light, as well as sound-absorbing acoustics in the new unit, also reduce potentially harmful stimulation to the premature newborns.
Supporting the NICU’s “family-centered wellness” approach, the expansion converted an open floor plan into a homelike atmosphere in which each isolette has its own private family area, complete with a pedestal sink, cabinets and a refrigerator. A large visitor bedroom gives parents the opportunity to stay overnight with their baby.
“The new unit will put our NICU five years ahead of the American Academy of Pediatric Guidelines by incorporating developmental care standards that foster the most advantageous environment for babies,” said Pollock. “We’re proud to be the only NICU in our area to have earned that distinction.”
Littleton Adventist Hospital is part of Centura Health, a faith-based hospital system sponsored by Adventist Health System and Catholic Health Initiatives. Known for its birthing services, surgical services and Level II trauma and emergency care, Littleton Adventist Hospital has been south Denver’s premier full service medical facility since 1989.
For further information, please contact Tiffany Radel, +1-303-881-9523, for Littleton Adventist Hospital.
Littleton Adventist Hospital
CONTACT: Tiffany Radel, +1-303-881-9523, for Littleton AdventistHospital
