On January 25, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital celebrated the grand opening of the new Kim and Steven Ullman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  The completion of the $6 million state-of-the-art facility is an important part of the hospital's expansion and vision to create the ideal patient-centered healthcare environment for Santa Clarita Valley’s tiniest patients.

After a year’s construction, the new 4,369-foot NICU has the capacity and technology to treat the community’s tiniest patients. The 11-bed NICU is staffed by a specialized, multidisciplinary team of health care professionals with a combined experience of 400 years. Neonatal nurses and respiratory care specialists, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists will all provide support for the newborns and their parents.

 “With a NICU, parents can have peace of mind that we can provide the care their newborns need to thrive. Babies will be able to stay close to home and family. From special lighting to noise level controls, we’ve taken every aspect of care into careful consideration for babies’ sensitivities,” said Sally McGann, RNC, MSN, Director of Women’s Services.

Neonatologist Sukshma Sreepathi, MD, board certified in pediatrics and neonatal medicine, will serve as Medical Director of the NICU. Nurses with advanced training in neonatal care will provide continual monitoring, while neonatal respiratory care specialists, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists, and physical and occupational therapists will all provide support for the newborns and their parents.

With more than 400 years of combined experience, Henry Mayo’s new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit staff is comprised of several clinical coordinators, 25 nurses and neonatal respiratory therapists who will be dedicated 24/7 to the NICU. Henry Mayo’s NICU nurses have been trained on more than 22 pieces of high-tech equipment specifically designed for the care of newborns.

Additional special features in the NICU include private family-centered rooms, with monitors allowing for constant observation and observation from the nursing station, and the capacity to allow family members to visit anytime; an isolation room, with negative pressure capabilities, and a semi-private room which can be used for twins or for the monitoring of a critically ill newborn.

The new NICU will open to the public following final approvals from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) and the Department of Health Services (DHS).

 For a list of our Henry Mayo NICU "Hour Club" Employee Donors, click HERE.