INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan Health Indianapolis recently expanded its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Center for Women & Children. An additional eight patient rooms/beds have been added to the unit, bringing the total to 38 rooms/beds.
Also, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the NICU, which was opened in 1974. Recently, a reunion carnival was held, welcoming back past NICU graduates and their families, along with staff who have been part of the journey for the past 50 years.
The Franciscan Health Center for Women & Children is the only Level III NICU servicing south central Indiana.
Being a Level III NICU, the Franciscan Health Center for Women & Children is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and trained specialists to care for infants requiring neonatal intensive care.
“We are very grateful to have been able to expand the number of rooms and NICU beds we offer as we continue to build upon the services we offer,” said Lori Kraeszig, NICU manager, Franciscan Health Indianapolis. “We cover a wide range of area in south central Indiana as a Level III NICU and having the resources to provide specialized services embodies our commitment to caring for these precious babies, especially during those first few vital weeks.”
Having Level III certification signifies that Franciscan Health Indianapolis has taken the necessary steps to provide specialty care to patients with more complex maternal and fetal conditions and complications. To retain a Level III certification, a high level of quality improvement and education of all hospital team members is required.
The NICU at the Franciscan Health Center for Women & Children features private mother-baby suites in which parents can be together with baby 24/7, as well as access to neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners 24 hours a day and AngelEye Health live-streaming cameras.
The Franciscan Health Center for Women & Children is located at 8111 South Emerson Ave. in Indianapolis.