Henderson Hospital is now certified as a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to care for newborns who are born prematurely or may have needs and conditions that require additional, specialized medical care.
The hospital opened its 12-bed Level II NICU in July 2018.
To prepare for its Level III certification, additional equipment was purchased, including conventional and high frequency ventilators, phototherapy lights, specialized isolettes that provide heat and humidity, and monitors that provide continuous monitoring of infants breathing, heart rate and oxygen saturation levels.
The NICU staff members underwent additional certification to work in the Level III NICU, and a specialized transport team was developed that could transfer babies from other hospitals to the Henderson Hospital NICU.
The Level II and Level III NICUs, are staffed with full-time neonatologists, neonatologist nurse practitioners, NICU-trained nurses, respiratory, occupational & physical therapists and lactation consultants, along with adjunct medical specialists capable of dealing with neonatal patients.
Rounding out the NICU team are specially-trained volunteers known as “cuddlers,” who spend their shift holding infants to help with their overall growth and development during the times a parent is not available.
