University Healthcare Berkeley Medical Center will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and public open house for the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on Wednesday, September 10 at 4 pm.
The Level II NICU is located on the 8th floor, south wing of the hospital. This service addition improves access to neonatal intensive care for babies and mothers in the Eastern Panhandle with high risk pregnancies.
“Our new NICU is allowing us to provide care for babies born with low birth weight, prematurity and those recovering from more serious conditions,” stated Melanie Riley, RN, director of maternal/infant services.
Neonatologist Dr. Avinash Purohit was recruited to University Healthcare last year as the medical director of the service. Other staff members, including Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Helena Brady, are also being added to the unit’s staff.
Several pediatric specialists will also be accessed via telemedicine from WVU Hospitals in Morgantown.“Prior to establishing this service at Berkeley Medical Center, these NICU babies were being transferred out of state or to Morgantown on a regular basis,” Riley added. The new NICU is scheduled to open the week of September 15.
For more information, call the University Healthcare marketing department at (304) 264-1223.
