TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center is proud to announce the opening of its new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) today.  The family-centered unit is designated a Level IIB nursery by the State of Tennessee, providing a higher level of care for premature and critically ill infants.

“We are excited to offer this enhanced level of care to our community,” said Mark Sims, chief executive officer at TriStar StoneCrest in Smyrna, Tenn.  “Parents can rest assured that if their infant needs special care, TriStar StoneCrest is well-equipped to provide expert medical attention, while keeping mother and baby together in the same facility.”

TriStar StoneCrest can now provide additional services to care for expanded types of complications in premature infants, including ventilator support services for brief periods.  The hospital celebrated its new unit with a ribbon cutting on May 16.

The NICU is staffed by an experienced team of obstetricians, high-risk obstetricians, neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists and other specially-trained healthcare professionals will provide care for babies born prematurely (as early as 32 weeks gestation) and as smalls as 3.3 pounds.  Normal birth occurs at a gestational age of about 40 weeks. Full-term babies weigh an average of 7 pounds.

Source: 

Kimberly T. Johnson, TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center