Staff Reports | Community Updates
Valleywise Health has become the first hospital in Arizona to implement the LifeBubble™ Umbilical Line Securement System, a technology designed to provide a more secure method for stabilizing umbilical lines in premature and critically ill infants.
The technology is expected to support infants receiving care in Valleywise Health’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and was introduced through collaboration between NICU clinicians, the Valleywise Health Foundation and community donors, according to a press release.
Implementation was made possible through a grant of more than $12,000 awarded by 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun to the Valleywise Health Foundation, which partnered with NICU nursing staff to bring the technology to patients.
“The addition of LifeBubble technology highlights our ongoing commitment to providing the most advanced, evidence-based care to the infants who need it most. Umbilical catheters are a vital lifeline for our most vulnerable patients, granting immediate access to medications, nutrition, fluids, and other lifesaving therapies during their critical first days,” Dr. Jodi Carter, chair of pediatrics at Valleywise Health, said.
“Bringing this technology to Valleywise Health further demonstrates our dedication to advancing neonatal care and ensuring every baby entrusted to our NICU receives the highest standard of treatment. We are immensely proud to fulfill our mission of providing exceptional care without exception and are profoundly grateful to the compassionate Valley women whose support made this possible.”
LifeBubble is designed to secure umbilical catheters used in newborn critical care while maintaining clinician access to the insertion site. Studies conducted at Oregon Health & Science University, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and published in the Journal of Perinatology found reductions in catheter migration and reported positive feedback from nursing staff.
“Every improvement we can make for our smallest and most medically fragile patients matters,” Alyssa Munson, MSN, RN, NICU developmental care coordinator at Valleywise Health, said. “LifeBubble represents an opportunity to bring an evidence-based innovation to Arizona that may help improve the healthcare experience for both infants and clinicians. We are grateful to 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun and the Valleywise Health Foundation for helping make this advancement possible.”
As the first Arizona health care organization to adopt the technology, Valleywise Health continues its focus on patient safety and neonatal care innovation.
“When our members learned about this technology and how it can improve care for vulnerable newborns, they immediately recognized the difference it could make,” Pam Stelzer, emeritus member of the Valleywise Health Foundation Board and member of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun, said. “This initiative is a strong example of how local philanthropy can create meaningful change in our community. The women who contributed to this grant should be proud knowing their generosity is helping bring innovative care to Arizona families.”
