NCMC elevates NICU to Level 3

GREELEY — North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley will elevate its neonatal intensive-care unit from a Level 2 to a Level 3 nursery.

The change, effective April 2, is intended to better serve families with premature infants in Northern Colorado.

Level 3 nurseries provide a higher level of care. New equipment added as part of the enhancements include incubators, ventilators, infant warmers, bilirubin (bili) lights, bili blankets, breast pumps and high-flow oxygen setups along with additional respiratory and neonatal supplies. Funding was provided by Banner Health and the NCMC Foundation.

The Level 2 special-care nursery provided respiratory support for newborns for only a short period of time, typically a day or two at most, for babies who were born at 32 weeks gestation or later. If a baby was born earlier than 32 weeks and required respiratory support for a longer period, they were transferred to Denver to a facility that could provide Level 3 NICU care. NCMC saw a need for this added service based on the number of mothers who were transferred out prior to the birth of a premature infant and the number of infants born in the area who required that higher level of care.

With more than 1,600 babies born at NCMC in 2017, the hospital continues to see a growth in healthy babies as well as premature and sick babies. As a Level 3 NICU, NCMC will offer comprehensive care for babies born at 28 weeks gestation or greater. Level 2 nurseries care for babies born at 32 weeks gestation or greater.

“Becoming a Level 3 NICU will allow us the opportunity to provide a higher level of clinical care and help patients be their healthiest closer to home,” said Tammy Piccone, director Women and Infant Services and Pediatrics at NCMC.

NCMC has added 24/7 neonatology coverage and services. Neonatologists specialize in the care of premature and ill newborns. The NCMC Level 3 NICU also meets the standards for nursery levels of care per the Guidelines for Perinatal Care written by the American Academy of Pediatrics and The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.

on Facebook on LinkedIn