February 22, 2012

St.Vincent Carmel Hospital Completes Second Renovation Phase to Maternity Unit

The faith-based facility now offers private Level III NICU rooms

CARMEL, Ind. – St.Vincent Carmel Hospital officials have announced that the second phase of a significant 28,000-square-foot renovation of the rooms and amenities in the maternity unit has been completed. Babies who are born prematurely or need care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) now have a quieter place to rest and grow in the new Level III private rooms.

The new private NICU rooms- which can also accommodate twins and triplets – provide better control of the baby’s environment with less noise and activity, fewer interruptions to sleep, and an atmosphere that is more conducive for improved developmental outcomes.

“It is very typical for NICUs to have an open bay environment where there are multiple babies being cared for at the same time,” said Michelle Slayman, director for perinatal services at St.Vincent Carmel Hospital.

“It is not uncommon to hear multiple alarms or see several parents in a shared NICU space, which can be stressful for the baby as well as the parents.”

The NICU renovation also comes with new technologies. Since infants are now in private rooms, sophisticated patient management technology has been installed. The infant alarms are sent to voice devices that the NICU nurses wear. The technology also enables nurses to view an infant’s status when they are not at the bedside.

The private NICU rooms also include soothing artwork by local artists, music and a family space that can enhance the parents’ experience as well by giving family the place to process the health care concerns and spend more one-on-one time with their infant.

The 124-bed hospital typically delivers babies from northern Marion County, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield and Zionsville.

St.Vincent Carmel Hospital is prepared for anything that may arise before, during and after birth. Should additional care be needed, obstetrician/gynecologists, anesthesiologists and neonatologists are available around the clock. To support high-risk births, babies in the NICU receive continuous comprehensive care. In addition, the board certified high-risk obstetrical staff specializes in helping expectant moms with various health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or the birth of multiples.

Phase III of the renovation has begun on the unit’s labor and delivery rooms.

For more information on the renovations, or a classes and programs that are offered for soon-to-be mothers and families, visit monogrammaternity.com.

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St.Vincent Carmel Hospital
St.Vincent Carmel Hospital is a 124-bed, full-service healthcare ministry serving Hamilton County since 1985. The facility features all-private patient rooms, and offers comprehensive services for area residents and surrounding communities. Some of the services include maternity, emergency, surgical, one of the leading bariatric centers in the country and a newborn intensive care unit (NICU). The faith-based health provider also houses the largest Orthopedic Center in Hamilton County.

For more information contact:
Jen Dial
St.Vincent Health
Public Relations Consultant
(317) 583-4031
jkdial@stvincent.org