Mobile, Ala. (May 6, 2004)
Contact: Bob Lowry
USA Hospitals Public Relations, (251) 415-1358 |
 Neonatal Reunion at USA Children's Park Welcomes Back USA NICU "Alumni"
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The Hollis J. Wiseman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital hosted USA’s 20th Neonatal Intensive Care Unit reunion at USA Children’s Park on May 2. More than 1,000 USA NICU “alumni” and their families attended.
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| More than 1,000 USA neonatal intensive care unit "alumni" and their families came together May 2 at USA Children's
Park on the USA Children's & Women's Hospital campus to celebrate USA's 20th NICU reunion. |
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Each year, more than 900 patients are admitted to the NICU at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. Approximately 150 of those patients come from other hospitals, transported by the Children’s & Women’s NICU transport service.
The NICU alumni are babies who were either born premature, underweight or ill, requiring NICU care. The Wiseman NICU at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital has been designated as a Level III NICU, thus, a large number of families have benefited from its specialized intensive care. The continuum of mother/baby care at Children’s & Women’s includes the full range of high- |
Dr. Keith Peevy, neonatologist and
professor of pediatrics in the USA
College of Medicine, reunited with
former USA neonatal intensive care unit
patient Emily McCurley of Mobile during
USA's 20th NICU reunion at USA
Children's Park on May 2. |
obstetrics and perinatal care.
NICUs are classified by the level of care they are equipped and certified to provide. Level III NICUs, such as that at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, |
are equipped to provide comprehensive care to the sickest of newborns. In addition to direct patient care, Level III units participate in research and educational activities. New technologies developed for newborn care are usually initially evaluated in Level III units. Also, hospitals with Level III NICUs have the capability to provide comprehensive perinatal services for mothers and neonates of all risk categories.
The commitment of a hospital to provide Level III neonatal intensive care is quite significant in terms of equipment and personnel. Infants who are critically ill require around-the-clock supervision by staff who are skilled in providing respiratory and cardiac support. |
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