Abrazo Health: New facility will expand care for preterm babies
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Abrazo Health and its Arrowhead Campus has started construction on expansion for the hospital’s neonatal unit for preterm babies.
The new rooms, about 8,000 square feet of additional space, will be adjacent to Abrazo Arrowhead’s existing Level IIIA perinatal care center, which continues to be open for patient care during construction, according to a press release.
The million-dollar addition will increase unit’s size from 21 to 35 beds and support enhanced capabilities to pursue certification as a higher Level IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for more complex maternal and neonatal medical conditions, obstetric and fetal complications, the release states.
Abrazo Arrowhead Campus is one of the Valley’s leading destinations for maternity care as more than 3,000 babies, including high-order, multiple births like triplets, are born every year at Abrazo Arrowhead.
“With this strategic expansion, Abrazo Arrowhead Campus will be able to serve more families and keep moms and babies together in their community,” said Dr. Amit Agrawal, medical director of neonatology.
Arrowhead Campus CEO Stephen Garner welcomes the addition.
“The expansion will allow our providers and caregivers to offer an even higher level and care for babies of all gestational ages after the new unit is certified by the state,” he said.
Abrazo Health: New facility will expand care for preterm babies
Abrazo Arrowhead is already certified to care for premature infants as young as 28 weeks gestation. Pursuit of the Level IIIB NICU certification means the hospital will be capable of providing complex care for babies of any gestational age, explained Chief Nursing Officer Julie Bowman, MSN, BSN, RN.
“We are extremely proud of the high-quality care our existing clinical staff and community OB/GYNs provide, as well as around-the-clock coverage with neonatal specialists, laborists and an OB emergency department,” said Ms. Bowman. “We are pleased to be adding more physician subspecialty coverage and capabilities to enhance the care we provide for expectant families.”
The hospital continues to enhance its clinical services in addition to women’s and infants care, including in heart and vascular, orthopedics, general surgery and more, added Mr. Garner.
“The future of Abrazo Arrowhead Campus is bright, and I am proud of our hospital’s commitment to increasing access to high quality, specialty care closer to home for our Northwest Valley community,” he said.
