Home Newsroom
Get the latest news to Medical City Children’s Hospital, one of the leading Texas children's hospitals.
February 7, 2007
Medical City Children's Hospital Relocates Tiniest of Cherubs to New Unit Just in Time for Valentine's Day
New Level III NICU offers advanced technology in a family-friendly atmosphere

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, Medical City Children's Hospital will unveil its new 18,869-square-foot Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Created with both family comfort and staff convenience in mind, the Level III NICU embraces a unique layout concept that places it at the forefront of innovative hospital design in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

"Many of our babies are here for weeks or months at a time," said Ginny Dillard, NICU nurse manager of Medical City Children's Hospital. "It is important to us as caregivers to create an environment that provides comfort and hope, not only for our babies and their families, but also for our physicians and staff."

The new 37-bed unit features large semi-private and private rooms with wide windows that usher in natural light. Lighting can also be adjusted according to the developmental needs of the baby. Cool, calming colors dance through the hallways creating a sunny atmosphere even on the darkest of days.

For all its beautiful aesthetics, the design has not compromised the up-to-the-minute technology and specialized care that has given the unit its Level III designation.

"We serve as a tertiary referral center for babies that require the highest level of intensive care," says John O'Neill, administrator of Medical City Children's Hospital. "Over half of our NICU admissions are transferred to us via our dedicated neonatal transport team from hospitals across the state.

We are fortunate to have the full array of pediatric specialists available to support our neonatologists in the care of these premature babies. This new unit will provide the latest technology for our doctors and staff while providing a comfortable setting for our families," indicates O'Neill.

Examples of this investment in the latest technology are present throughout the unit. Nurses will be equipped with Spectralink phones that are connected to the babies' heart monitors and ventilators. This equipment keeps nurses updated on the baby's condition at all times.

Continuing to promote the family friendly atmosphere, the new unit also features family courtesy rooms. The rooms offer private accommodations for parents of infants transported from a distant hospital or for parents during difficult situations.

Staff members are also sure to love their new space. The unit offers a large staff lounge, a locker room and on-call rooms for the neonatologists who are in house 24-hours a day. There is also a conference room for staff meetings and training sessions.

Other notable features include:
  • Lactation room for breast-feeding moms
  • Nourishment center for families and visitors
  • Family consult rooms
  • "Guest card" secured access onto the unit
  • Internet access in waiting areas
  • Sibling play areas in the waiting room

The NICU's design resembles the layout of the hospital's new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), which opened last year. Both the PICU and NICU will become integral parts of the pediatric tower that will house Medical City Children's Hospital, opening in late 2008. The tower's groundbreaking ceremony is planned for summer 2007.

Back to Newsroom

 

Find a Specialist

Call 972-566-7111 or search using one or more of the following fields:

 
Last Name:
First Name:
Your City:
Your ZIP Code:
Search Help