T.J. Samson | Destination Health | February 2020

T.J. Samson opens Neonatal Intensive Care Unit T here are few things that T.J. Samson Community Hospital is more excited to announce than its new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).The level 2 NICU opened its doors in January and provides crucial care for newborns who are premature or ill. DO THIS FIRST Always empty your bladder before having your blood pressure measured. Having a full bladder can add 10 to 15 points to your blood pressure. Source: American Heart Association GIVE YOUR EARS A BREAK If you wear noise-canceling headphones or earbuds, don’t wear them for more than an hour without taking a break. Even if the sound is low, your ears need time to recover. Source: American Academy of Audiology The new NICU is the result of a collaboration between T.J. Samson and PedForAll, which partners with hospitals to provide pediatric services. Every year some 1,200 babies arrive at T.J. Samson. And as many as 1 out of 10 of them need special- ized medical treatment before their parents can take them home. “Previously, these babies were transferred to a hospital miles away in order to receive that care,” says Mark D. Hughes, MD, FAAP, a Pediatric Hospitalist and member of the highly skilled NICU team at T.J. Samson. “But now the vast major- ity of these babies can be treated close to home.This is so much easier for families, emotionally and practically— and a real gift to our community.” Still another big benefit of the NICU: Pregnant women who arrive at T.J. Samson in preterm labor will likely be able to deliver here, rather than being trans- ferred to another hospital. A FOCUS ON FRAGILE BABIES This addition of a Level 2 NICU, also known as a special care nursery, means T.J. Samson can now care for babies who: ●  ● Arrive as early as 32 weeks. ●  ● Weigh as little as 3.3 pounds. ●  ● Need respiratory support or spe- cialized medicine because their lungs are still developing. ●  ● Have trouble feeding or staying warm. ●  ● Have low blood sugar, the main source of fuel for the brain and body. ●  ● Experience withdrawal symptoms after being exposed to opioids or other drugs in the womb. Level 2 NICUs typically can safely treat up to 90% of all newborns who need extra medical attention when they’re born, Dr. Hughes says. Babies who require an even higher level of care will be transferred to an appropriate hospital, such as Mon- roe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville or TriStar Centennial Children’s Hospital in Nashville. A PEEK INSIDE The NICU at T.J. Samson has six beds for tiny patients, and two more will be added if the need arises. It offers newly purchased technology specific for newborns, including equipment to support breathing as babies’ lungs mature. Should you ever have a baby who needs to stay in the new NICU, you can count on dedi- cated care. “Either a neonatologist, a pediatric hospitalist or a neona- tal nurse practitioner is on hand 24/7—and ready to respond to any concerning change in a baby’s status,” Dr. Hughes says. And be- cause newborns in NICUs need constant monitoring, the NICU nurses typically only watch over two to three babies at a time. You’ll find the new NICU in what was once exclusively a nursery for healthy babies. But with most healthy babies now rooming with their moms to encourage breast- feeding and bonding, the extra space was converted into a NICU. “It couldn’t have a more im- portant use,” Dr. Hughes says. And, chances are, many area par- ents will agree. Specialized care for newborns is now nearby. a Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Platteville, WI Permit No. 7 T.J. Samson Community Hospital 1301 N. Race St. Glasgow, KY 42141 FEBRUARY 2020

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTI0MzU=