New Level II Nursery Opens at Swedish/Issaquah July 8

— Service provides premature, sick, infants with special care, support

 

ISSAQUAH, Wash., June 20, 2013 — Swedish/Issaquah will open its new Level II Nursery on Monday, July 8, having recently received state approval to provide this vital service to the community. The Level II Nursery allows for premature and ill babies — born as early as 34 weeks gestational age — to stay at Swedish/Issaquah to receive the specialized, around-the-clock care they need from a specially trained team of experts.

 

Until now, babies born prematurely (less than 37 weeks gestational age) at Swedish/Issaquah were transferred to other area hospitals to receive neonatal care. Read More >>

 

“Since opening, we’ve had to transfer nearly 30 premature or ill babies to other local hospitals so they could have access to dedicated neonatal care,” says Neonatologist Eric Demers, M.D., medical director of the Level II Nursery and a Pediatrix Medical Group physician who specializes in the care and healing of premature or sick newborns. “Now that we’re adding this special-care nursery, a baby born as early as 34 weeks can remain at Swedish/Issaquah with his or her mom, and be provided with expert, specialized neonatal care.”

 

Swedish received approval to add a Level II Nursery at its new Issaquah hospital once it met Washington state’s required 1,000 deliveries at the campus. Reaching this number demonstrated there was a need in the community to be filled.

 

“We have a responsibility to care for patients of all ages, and we take this responsibility very seriously. We’re dedicated to caring for these youngest, most fragile patients,” says Wendy Colgan, R.N., manager of Women & Infants and Pediatrics at Swedish/Issaquah. “And there is a definite need to be filled — parents and these precious babies deserve access to this level of care in their community. Parents can rest assured knowing that should their new bundle of joy enter the world earlier than expected, we now offer this appropriate, important level of care close to home.”

 

Features of the Level II Nursery

 

Premature infants often face health challenges that require special care, such as feeding support, intravenous therapy or supplemental oxygen. These tiny, fragile patients require a dedicated team to provide care and monitor development.

 

At Swedish/Issaquah, the Level II Nursery will be staffed by highly skilled neonatal advance practice registered nurses who are supported by neonatologists. These nurses and physicians are part of the Pediatrix Medical Group, the same group of clinicians who staff Swedish’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at its First Hill campus, and the special-care nurseries at Swedish’s Ballard and Edmonds campuses.

 

The new Swedish/Issaquah Level II Nursery also features:

 

·        Eight private, state-of-the-art hospital rooms offering the latest in neonatal technology and space for parents to sleep.
·        A family centered environment so these newborns — and their parents — get the tender, loving support they need and deserve.
·        A location in close proximity to other related services. The Level II Nursery is located on the second floor of the hospital near the Labor & Delivery, Post-Partum and Pediatric Units.

 

The Level II Nursery will have a phased opening. The first phase is the July 8 opening of the initial eight rooms. Construction on the second phase starts this fall, and will include expanding to 15 rooms. Construction will be complete in 2014. This expansion will allow for Swedish/Issaquah to care for babies delivered as young as 32 weeks gestational age.

 

Access to the Larger System

 

Should a baby still require a transfer to Swedish’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on the First Hill campus in Seattle — due to extreme prematurity or a medical condition — parents can rest assured that the baby has instant access to the largest neonatal program in the state. Swedish's NICU is one of a handful of Level III Nurseries in the region, and cares for the most premature or sick newborns. In addition, the baby will have consistency of care with the same team of Pediatrix Medical Group physicians and nurses, and an electronic medical record accessible at any Swedish facility.