In May 2007, Meriter's expanded Newborn Intensive Care Unit began caring for patients. This Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) combines a quiet, healing environment with leading edge medical and technical care.

The new unit - with 12,000 square feet devoted to patient and family care - blends high-tech and high-touch elements. It replaced a two-room, 23-bed unit, which opened in 1990. As with the older unit, the new NICU is designated Level III, which means it provides the most advanced care available for premature and severely ill babies.

"The new NICU allows us to continue to provide the highest quality of care, but in a more comfortable and spacious setting," notes Department of Neonatology Director David Carlton, MD.

Unlike the old NICU, the new unit is located in the same wing as the Birthing Center - making it more convenient for hospitalized moms to spend time with their newborns. The unit features a large family lounge with comfortable areas for relaxing, dining, computer use and sibling play.

The level III 30-bed unit is part of The Center for Perinatal Care, a joint program of Meriter Hospital and the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

Private Patient Rooms

One of the more important attributes of the new unit is private rooms for each family, says Assistant Vice President of Women's Health Services Patricia Grunwald.

"Extremely premature infants experience an enormous amount of brain growth during their stays in the NICU," Grunwald says. "Research has shown that a quieter, light controlled and less chaotic environment promotes the infant's comfort and stability, and may contribute to optimal brain growth and organization."

In addition, private rooms provide a peaceful setting where new parents can nurture and bond with their babies, and gain confidence in caring for them. Moms can work on breastfeeding skills, too.

Architects designed each patient room with three distinct "zones." Equipment and supplies for the medical and nursing staff are nearest the door; the bassinette, life-sustaining technology and baby supplies are in the middle; and a sleeper sofa and storage cabinets for parents are near the window. Also, seven rooms have the flexibility to accommodate families with multiple births.

Meriter's NICU Was Funded Through Community Support

The new NICU is literally a dream come true, thanks to generous support from individuals and businesses in the community.

"Gifts from the community made all the difference in moving the new NICU from being a merely good design model to a truly great facility for babies born too soon or with life-threatening complications. My wife, Amy, and I want to thank everyone who was inspired to make a gift," says Park Bank president Jim Hegenbarth. The Hegenbarths cochaired Meriter Foundation's Little Babies ~ Big Dreams campaign, which exceeded its goal of raising $2 million to support the $6.1 million project.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the many people who helped make this dream a reality. Meriter was pleased to receive overwhelming support from community members, physicians and Meriter employees during this campaign:

• 625 donors contributed $2,024,759.
• First-time physicians were actively involved in helping Meriter reach a philanthropic goal; and physicians contributed more than $175,000 to the campaign.
• Meriter Foundation hit an all-new record for employee giving due to the overwhelming employee support of the campaign.

5/13/2007