Holy Name Medical Center is celebrating the opening of a state-of-the-art $3.5 million neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The provider unveiled the Level III special care nursery during an Oct. 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new department marks an upgrade from the Teaneck-based hospital’s previous status as a Level II NICU.

Babies who arrive during the second semester typically have very low birthweight, problems breathing and other medical issues. As a result, they often need prolonged time on a ventilator and intensive care. The fresh unit at Holy Name ensures newborns who are born prematurely, are critical ill or require surgery have access to specialized, high-quality care provided by neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists and other specialists. It also alleviates the need to transport preemies to other facilities, away from their parents.

According to Holy Name, the 11-bassinet facility features the latest technology, including environment-controlled incubators, ventilators and monitoring systems.

It also features:

• 24/7 in-hospital coverage with neonatal experts
• Bed with integrated music therapy and in-room parent accommodations to mimic home life before discharge
• Advanced equipment for bedside surgeries, if needed
• A family center with web-based video cameras for remote baby monitoring

Holy Name NICU Manager Heather Uccello said the unit “plays a crucial role in the health of both women and children.”

“Early interventions in the NICU can lead to better long-term health outcomes, including cognitive and developmental progress. The NICU staff encourages parental involvement through skin-to-skin contact and other bonding practices, and NICU staff provide education for mothers about their child’s care needs, empowering them to take an active role in their child’s health.”

Michele Acito, Holy Name’s executive vice president and chief nursing officer, commented, “The Level III nursery will expand our current expert care to our most vulnerable patients. Before, an infant requiring Level III care would be immediately transported out of the organization, away from the mother.”

“Providing an NICU with expert physicians, nurses and support staff will eliminate ambulance transfers of newborns and parents divided between two hospitals, and will enable bonding of the family unit, thereby affording our community and patients with the level of care they have come to expect at Holy Name,” she said.

Improving outcomes

Holy Name averaged 1,400 newborn deliveries a year between 2021 and 2023. Due to not having an established NICU, the hospital has contracted with other hospitals in North Jersey to transfer newborns in need of intensive care to designated regional perinatal centers. Receiving facilities include Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s University Medical Center.

Since these babies are immediately transferred out of Holy Name and away from their mother, it delays bonding time between the child and parent.

In its certificate of need application to the state, Holy Name noted that it serves a higher percentage of low-income patients and families and that having a NICU “would improve outcomes, as well as reduce physical, emotional and financial hardships on families as they navigate through an already traumatic situation.”

Of the nearly 103,000 births in New Jersey in 2022, about 9.3% were premature, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. The rate of preterm births has remained about the same for the last 14 years, the state says.

Within New Jersey, 18 other hospitals have Level III NICUs. 

Focus on family

Dr. David Sorrentino, chief of the neonatal intensive care unit, said the NICU will enhance Holy Name’s reputation for critical care.

“With a dedicated team of skilled nurses and physicians, the unit emphasizes family-centered support and education, aligning with the hospital’s mission to promote health and well-being. The medical staff is not only skilled in pediatric and maternal care, but also prioritizes compassionate communication, helping families navigate challenging situations,” he stated.

The opening follows the recent modernization of Holy Name’s BirthPlace, which, together offers new parents a higher level of acuity and greater comfort and convenience – from family bonding time to reduced levels of stress to continuity of care for mom and baby.

The new NICU was made possible by the generosity of the Serviam Foundation and Douglas M. Noble Family Foundation, according to Holy Name.

Aleta Taylor and Rich Taylor, co-founders and trustees of Saddle River-based Serviam Foundation, shared, “To be able to care for premature infants from birth without leaving the hospital, as well as providing a facility to test without disturbing that child, and creating a safe space for the parents to stay, is undeniably the most selfless act that the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace can provide. For our family to be part of this, is truly a blessing.”

Following the unit’s opening, Holy Name will convert its former NICU into a new nurses station and intake area for labor & delivery.