August 7: New Level II NICU Opens!

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Nearly two years ago, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center received the designation from the state to move forward with building a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and on August 7, it will finally become a reality.

Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center invites the community to tour the new NICU and celebrate this milestone with games, snacks and good company. From 2:30-4:30 p.m., the public can see the new facility for the first time.

Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Centers Level II NICU will be the only one in Volusia County with private family-centered rooms.

The unit will treat sick and premature babies through specialized medical treatment. Level II NICUs indicate a higher level of care and expertise, including neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners.

This $10 million construction project began in January 2015 and expanded Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Centers fourth floor by 16,300 square feet, connecting the new NICU to the existing birthing center.

The new research-based designed unit includes 16-beds, equipped with incubators, ventilators and other specialized equipment for premature newborns, specifically those 32 weeks and older. In addition, each private room features sleeping and showering accommodations so that new parents do not need to leave their child, allowing for a more advanced sensory environment for premature babies.

Though Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center has had the necessary equipment, technology and medical experts for years, the hospital needed a specific designation from the state of Florida in order to begin construction. On November 23, 2014, Lydia Blair Baker was the 1,500th infant born at Florida Hospital Medical Memorial Center in a rolling year, therefore making the hospital eligible to apply for a Certificate of Need exemption from the state.

The birth of a child is one of the greatest miracles of life, said Becky Vernon, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center director of women and children's services. Unfortunately, there are times when things may not go as planned and the baby may arrive premature or sick, requiring intensive nursing and medical care. These babies need specialized medical treatment, so there's a real need in our community for the Level II NICU to provide care to our smallest patients

To learn more or to RSVP to the open house event, call Call386-231-2229.

About Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center

Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. Our locations include Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach and Florida Hospital Oceanside in Ormond Beach, as well as outpatient facilities in Port Orange, Daytona Beach Shores and New Smyrna Beach. With 277-beds, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is one of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 907 beds and more than 6,000 employees. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region collectively contributed nearly $120 million in benefits in 2015 to the underprivileged, the community's overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements. For more information about Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, visit www.floridahospitalmemorial.org.