News

Plan for New Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Gains Final Approval

Released: 6/7/2012

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital has received final approval to add a 10-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The New York State Department of Health’s Public Health and Health Planning Council today (June 7, 2012) voted to approve the measure.

“This is great news for the patients and families that we serve,” said Christopher Lane, the president of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.  “Adding the neonatal intensive care unit further exemplifies our continued commitment to provide the north towns community with vital services.”

With state approval in hand, planning for construction and operations will begin immediately said Lane.

In February, the hospital – in partnership with Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo – announced plans for a new neonatal intensive care unit. A neonatal intensive care unit specializes in the care of ill or premature newborn infants.

The hospital plans to convert six licensed maternity beds, two rehabilitation beds and two critical care beds for the new unit. The $2.6 million project includes renovations to existing space within the hospital.  The suite will be located on the second floor, adjacent to the labor and delivery program. This will eliminate the need for at-risk newborns to be transported to a separate facility and risk further medical complications.

It will be connected via a “hub and spoke model” with Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, the regional referral center for critically ill newborns and recipient of a US News and World Report “best hospital” award in 2011 and 2012.

Lane said that clinical scale is the basis for creating one quality infrastructure, one integrated standard of care, and one operating model for neonatal care, a critical component of pediatric care.