Of all the hospitals in the United States, fewer than 5% are dedicated children’s hospitals. Children’s hospitals are constructed and designed to meet the unique needs of children, and often go beyond the clinical care of their patients to support patient families as well. Nominated by our Kyte community and chosen as our July NICU, Memorial Health Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah is one such hospital with a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that serves over 100 counties in the Southeast Georgia and Southern South Carolina areas.
The NICU at Memorial Health provides critical care to newborns who are ill or premature. Established in 1992, the hospital has saved countless lives with its excellent newborn care and around-the-clock monitoring. This year, Memorial Health expanded its neonatal intensive care unit by 10 beds, for a total of 92 NICU beds. With bigger spaces for babies and bigger spaces for parents, families now have the privacy and comfort they need to focus on their baby, be present, and care for them.
Before being discharged from the NICU, families can now stay in the Rooming In Room as a transitional step, where they can be sure that they’ll be able to properly care for their baby and know what to do once they get home. Memorial Health also has plans for future expansions so they can stay ahead of the growing need and better serve patients and families.
Memorial Health NICU Services
Premature and critically ill babies in the NICU are particularly vulnerable and can be negatively impacted by environmental noise. Quiet time and soft lighting reduce stress and protect these neonates from harsh stimuli that can have adverse outcomes on their development. Memorial Health creates an ideal environment for these sick babies and also provides helpful services for families as they navigate life in the NICU. Here are some of the services Memorial Health offers in the NICU:
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Soft lighting
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Minimal noise
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Access to breast pumps
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Access to lactation consultants
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Transitional room
Live Streaming in the NICU
Having an infant in the NICU is stressful enough, but that stress increases for parents and caregivers when they need to be away from their baby. Memorial Health offers NICU live streaming with cameras that provide parents with a real-time view of their baby and allow them to have eyes on them when they’re unable to be by their side. This enhances bonding, increases emotional support for families, and reduces separation anxiety. These bedside cameras are part of a secure and private system that can be viewed on any smartphone, tablet, or computer.
The Care Team at Memorial Health
Babies in the NICU require specialized care due to their fragile state and underdeveloped systems. They need special medical attention and an advanced level of care that only a NICU can provide. The NICU at Memorial Health is staffed by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, including:
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Child life specialists
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Lactation consultants
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Neonatal support staff
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Pharmacists
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Rehabilitation therapists
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Respiratory therapists
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Social workers
Everyone at the hospital, from the board-certified neonatologists in the NICU to the transport crew who provide critical care during transport, works tirelessly to save the lives of these fragile newborns and improve their long-term outcomes. Kyte Baby is proud to support the Memorial Health Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah in its mission to help every single one of its patients survive and thrive.
Stories From the Kyte Community
“My baby was born at 23 weeks, 6 days, and they saved her life. She is currently 5 months old and still in the NICU. The NICU nurses and Child Life advocates are helping my baby transition to being an older baby with neurodevelopment activities and age-appropriate equipment.”
-Salone J.
“As a new RN working at Memorial’s NICU, this unit is the best. They deserve more credit for the care given to their patients. Their patients deserve the most love they could ever receive and with this nomination, there’s so much that could be done for the better of our babies!”
-Abbey G.
“The service the nurses and providers give these families is immeasurable. Often, they purchase items and clothing for these sweet babies and parents, who are often very young and are in shock at delivering at 22 weeks and up. They do wonderful work.”
-Christopher H.
“Our baby had to spend 3 weeks at the NICU here when he was born. Every doctor, nurse, and staff member treated us like family and took incredibly good care of our baby. They also have great technology and equipment, and provide very thorough care.”
-Courtney B.
If you would like us to make a donation to a NICU of your choice, you may submit a nomination along with your story on our Nominate-a-NICU page.
