Cypress Sun - News
CFMC completes Level III of NICU; ready to care for babies
 |
| One of the perks of the expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are touchscreen units like the one shown. This makes it easier for nurses to navigate on the monitors. |
By VALERIE JONES
Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center has finally finished expansion of its Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and celebrated the completion with a grand opening Nov. 12.
Guests were given tours of the new facilities.
NICU is for babies that need special care, like those that are premature or sick. They can receive specialized treatment for infections, birth defects, breathing difficulties, growth restriction and maternal health problems.
Level III is for the babies who are the smallest or sickest and need the most care. Level II is one step down from that – babies go there after they leave Level III.
“The expansion of our Level III neonatal intensive care unit was an important project for the hospital and for the community,” said Tung Giep, director of the neonatology department at CFMC. “We want our neighbors to have ready access to medical center style health care close to home during this special time in their lives.”
The new NICU has fifteen Level III nursery beds, including two isolation rooms and one private room and ten continuing care nursery beds – two being private rooms.
The expansion also includes two private sleep rooms for parents with comfortable, modern accommodations.
Brenda Sheppard, NICU Registered Nurse, has seen the change in the hospital first-hand.
“We used to be in a different part of the hospital and it was cramped and crowded,” she said. “This gives us so much more space, and we will now be able to have a Level III nursery.”
Whereas before, the hospital would transfer babies who needed special care to hospitals closer downtown, the babies can now be cared for at CFMC.
“Now we have the equipment, personnel and space to care for them here,” Sheppard said. “This will really impact the northwest side of Houston and cut down on the commute for many patients.”
For more information on the maternity services at CFMC, call 1-800-681-2733 or visit www.CyFairHospital.com/NICU.
Guests were given tours of the new facilities.
NICU is for babies that need special care, like those that are premature or sick. They can receive specialized treatment for infections, birth defects, breathing difficulties, growth restriction and maternal health problems.
Level III is for the babies who are the smallest or sickest and need the most care. Level II is one step down from that – babies go there after they leave Level III.
“The expansion of our Level III neonatal intensive care unit was an important project for the hospital and for the community,” said Tung Giep, director of the neonatology department at CFMC. “We want our neighbors to have ready access to medical center style health care close to home during this special time in their lives.”
The new NICU has fifteen Level III nursery beds, including two isolation rooms and one private room and ten continuing care nursery beds – two being private rooms.
The expansion also includes two private sleep rooms for parents with comfortable, modern accommodations.
Brenda Sheppard, NICU Registered Nurse, has seen the change in the hospital first-hand.
“We used to be in a different part of the hospital and it was cramped and crowded,” she said. “This gives us so much more space, and we will now be able to have a Level III nursery.”
Whereas before, the hospital would transfer babies who needed special care to hospitals closer downtown, the babies can now be cared for at CFMC.
“Now we have the equipment, personnel and space to care for them here,” Sheppard said. “This will really impact the northwest side of Houston and cut down on the commute for many patients.”
For more information on the maternity services at CFMC, call 1-800-681-2733 or visit www.CyFairHospital.com/NICU.
Copyright © 2009 - Houston Community Newspapers Online