Neonatal Unit Close to Opening

Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital expects to receive approval to open its new $6 million neonatal intensive care unit to patients by next month, hospital officials said. The hospital celebrated the grand opening of the Kim and Steven Ullman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit earlier this year. The NICU is named for the Ullman family and the Ullman Foundation, which made a substantial donation to the center. The Ullman’s granddaughter was born at Henry Mayo, but due to complications, had to be transported to a neonatal unit in the San Fernando Valley. That’s when the Ullmans realized that a NICU was needed in the Santa Clarita Valley. The 4,369-square foot NICU has 11 beds and is staffed by a specialized, multidisciplinary team including a neonatologist working in collaboration with the family pediatrician who will oversee care, as well as nurses with advanced training in neonatal nursing. Neonatal respiratory care specialists, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists will all provide support for the newborns and their parents. “With a NICU, parents can have peace of mind that we can provide the care their newborns need to thrive,” Sally McGann, director of women’s services, said in a statement. “From special lighting to noise level controls, we’ve taken every aspect of care into careful consideration for babies’ sensitivities.” NICU nurses have been trained on more than 22 pieces of high-tech equipment specifically designed for the care of newborns, the hospital said. The cool-cap system, for example, is the only FDA-approved treatment designed for infants who meet specific criteria to monitor their body temperature, according to Sharon McMahon, NICU Clinical Coordinator. Another special feature of the new facility is the family-centered private rooms, with monitors allowing for constant observation from the nursing station. Family members can visit the infants anytime. Also part of the unit is an isolation room, with negative pressure capabilities, and a semi-private room which can be used for twins or for the monitoring of a critically ill newborn. “The quality of care will be top notch,” McMahon said. The new NICU is subject to final approvals from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) and the Department of Health Services (DHS). –Judy Temes