Broward Health’s new NICU offers privacy, family comfort
A new neonatal intensive care unit at Broward Health features upgraded patient rooms with the latest equipment.
No family wants to be there, but for those who must go, Broward Health Medical Center’s new $11 million Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will at least provide for a more comfortable and hopefully less stressful wait.
The facility is the first phase of a $24.1 million renovation and expansion of the Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital’s NICU at 1600 S. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. It follows an already completed renovation of the hospital’s pediatric units. Total cost of all the renovations are projected to be about $52 million.
Families will be moved into the first phase of the new NICU from the hospital’s existing NICU today, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Newborn services at hospitals generally fall into four levels of care, with most babies receiving Level I care because they are well-born, can breathe on their own and maintain their own body temperature. These babies receive care in the hospital’s already completed pediatric units.
Babies admitted to Level III NICUs may have been born before 32 weeks and weigh less than 3.3 pounds, need equipment to help them breathe, are critically ill, or have known complications prior to delivery.
The renovated section opening today features private patient rooms with sofa beds that sleep two adults, recliners, TVs, bottle warmers, diaper scales and monitors.
Showers will be available for family members, as well as a lounge area with a coffee machine, dining area, and play space for siblings. The first phase will consist of 30 rooms and up to 63 beds. Each room is designed with space for lone children, twins or triplets.
“All amenities are available to patients,” hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Smith said via email. “However, until Phase II is completed in 2019, depending on [how many patients are receiving care], some rooms may need to be semi-private.
Once Phase II is completed in 2019, all private patient rooms will be available.”
The next phase of the renovation will make over the existing NICU unit. When complete, 30 private rooms (with room for 36 beds) will be available for Level II NICU patients. These patients typically have some health problems but not serious enough to warrant Level III care, or are recovering after receiving Level III care.
The opening comes just six weeks after Broward Health raised the curtain on a $65 million expansion of its Coral Springs hospital with family-centric maternity services.