PMC has added the new Giraffe Omni Bed in the NICU. The state-of-the-art technology helps PMC provide newborns exceptional thermal and developmental care. The growing number of newborns who require the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) highlights an urgent need for us to provide this technology for our patients. The Giraffe Warmer has a Baby Susan mattress to make caring for our youngest patients easier. This new equipment also helps staff avoid facing the challenging problem of sharing crucial equipment amongst preemies, necessitating moving a baby from one piece of equipment to another.

PMC recently received a $59,000 grant from Kosair Charities to purchase a Temperature Management Cooling Blanket Therapy System for the PMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This temperature management system has the ability to cool a newborn’s body and brain temperature, potentially saving a baby’s life in certain situations. This system uses a technique called hypothermia treatment, in which the newborn is wrapped in a waterproof blanket that circulates cool water around a baby, lowering the body’s temperature to just below 92 degrees Fahrenheit. Experts say decreasing the temperature cools the baby’s brain and body, reducing the risk of brain injury by as much as 50 percent.

Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) has doubled the size of its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after recently learning its request to expand the unit has been approved.

The certificate of need (CON) submitted by PMC in August, 2019, asked to increase the number of beds in the NICU from 8 to 16.

In addition to being able to treat more babies, moving to a 16-bed unit increased PMC’s level of care from a level 11 to a level II Advanced Care NICU.

That will allow PMC physicians and staff to care for babies born earlier in the mother’s pregnancy.

Previously, babies born sooner than 32 weeks had to be transferred to a higher level facility. However, the PMC NICU will now be able to keep and take care of babies born as early as 28 weeks.

PMC NICU staff will also be able to treat babies with a lower birth weight than before.