Portneuf Medical Center’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has expanded its program with the addition of a four-bed micropreemie unit and new telehealth services to support the region’s most vulnerable newborns.
This winter, PMC completed a renovation to the NICU that included creating a dedicated unit for micropreemies, or very premature babies born at or before 26 weeks gestation. This four-bed unit, called the Small Baby Unit, was engineered specifically to support neurological development, featuring soundboards and rubberized flooring to dampen noise and dimmable lighting to creating a soothing environment for neurosensory growth.
“The first few weeks of life are a critical window for a micropreemie’s brain development,” said Elizabeth O’Donnell, MD, neonatologist at PMC. “By creating the Small Baby Unit, we can control the environment through minimizing light and sound to mimic the womb as closely as possible. This specialized care is essential for protecting their fragile nervous systems and ensuring the best long-term developmental outcomes.”
The addition of the Small Baby Unit brings PMC’s NICU bed count to 20, which is one of the largest in the state. The unit is staffed by a comprehensive interdisciplinary team, including neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, dietitians and specialists in speech (feeding), occupational and physical therapy.
Beyond its walls, PMC has launched a pilot tele-NICU program to support regional hospitals. Through virtual consultations, PMC neonatologists can collaborate with referring physicians on the care of newborn babies in real-time. This ensures that infants receive expert-level oversight immediately, regardless of their location, while facilitating a seamless transfer to PMC if a higher level of care is required.
“Our goal is to ensure that every baby in our region has access to high-level neonatal expertise, regardless of where their journey begins,” said Dr. O’Donnell. “Tele-NICU allows us to support our colleagues at smaller facilities, providing peace of mind to families and ensuring that if a baby needs to be transferred, they are stabilized and ready for transport under the guidance of our specialists.”
The NICU program at PMC prioritizes clinical excellence through collaboration. Neonatologists work closely with obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists and families to develop individualized care plans for babies. An interdisciplinary approach brings more complete care, improved communication and better patient outcomes. This investment in health continues long after a baby leaves the hospital, with PMC’s NICU follow-up clinic monitoring growth and development through early childhood.
PMC is deeply committed to our smallest patients. For more information about NICU services, visit https://www.portneuf.org/services/nicu/