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Level II NICU under construction at Penn State Health Lancaster Med Center
Leaders at Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center pose during a ‘groundbreaking’ for the Level II NICU at Lancaster Medical Center. PHOTO/PROVIDED BY PENN STATE HEALTH
Level II NICU under construction at Penn State Health Lancaster Med Center
A new Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is under construction at Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center.
The groundbreaking expands advanced newborn care for families in Lancaster County.
“Lancaster Medical Center’s new Level II NICU reflects Penn State Health’s continued investment in expanding access to specialized pediatric and obstetric services across the region,” Joseph Frank, president of Penn State Health Lancaster and St. Joseph medical centers, said in a statement. “It will bring expert, trusted care closer to home for patients in Lancaster County and minimize disruptions in neonatal care.
“It will also help ensure smoother transitions for infants who need the most advanced treatment at our Level IV NICU at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital just up the road in Hershey.”
Expected to open this fall, the new unit will include three beds and provide specialized support for newborns who require more specialized care than is available in a standard newborn nursery. Level II NICU will serve infants who are:
- Born at 32 weeks’ gestation or later, or who weigh 1,500 grams (approximately three pounds, five ounces) or more
- Mildly to moderately ill with conditions expected to resolve quickly
- Not anticipated to need urgent subspecialty services
- In need of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or short-term mechanical ventilation
- Transferred back from higher-level facilities for convalescent care
According to a release, 24/7 staffing, access from Labor and Delivery, and support of the Level IV NICU team at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital helps the new unit ensure newborns receive timely, continuous and coordinated care from the moment they are born.
The NICU is being built at the center of the hospital’s Family Birthing Suite, allowing parents to remain close to their baby.
The High Foundation has made the first philanthropic commitment to the project, supporting Penn State Health’s mission to provide quality care for families throughout the area.
