“We are seeing the growth, and those babies are coming to us,” Fraiche said.
The new NICU is the latest portion of the health system’s recently completed four-story new patient tower to come online. While it boasts the same number of beds as the previous NICU, it encompasses significantly more space, which will mean, among other things, more comfort for the families of babies there.
It also includes additional space for expansion of the unit should that become necessary.
“My comment just now was, ‘We are jazzed to be in this new NICU,’ which works so well with that second-line concept,” Dr. Chimento said. “I really enjoyed it, because I’ve been waiting so patiently for the day that we were able to move in here and provide more space, more comfort but also more care for these babies.”
Dr. Chimento said that with recent investments in technology and the addition of more pediatric specialists over the past few years at St. Tammany Health System, fewer babies will require transport to other facilities in the region to receive the care they need.
“That means so much for a family, to be close to their babies while they’re getting this care,” Dr. Chimento said.
She added: “This neonatal ICU, with its larger space, definitely gives us the ability to take great care of these patients and continue providing the world-class healthcare close to home that we’ve been providing.”