HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — Families across Henderson County now have access to advanced neonatal care close to home with the opening of the Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville.
As the first and only NICU in the county, this new Special Care Nursery means families no longer have to travel long distances during some of the most critical and emotional moments following a birth. Instead, parents can remain close to their newborns while receiving specialized care from a dedicated neonatal team.
The Level II NICU provides advanced care for babies born at 32 weeks gestation and later, as well as full-term infants who need additional medical support. The unit offers private rooms designed to support bonding, along with 24-hour monitoring and a team of experienced neonatal providers and nurses available around the clock.
“For families, proximity to care can make a meaningful difference during an already stressful time,” said Chloe Harden, MSN, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, LSSGB, Director of The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville. “This NICU allows parents to stay close to their babies while receiving the specialized support they need, right here in their community.”
The need for local neonatal services has grown significantly across Western North Carolina, where families have often been required to travel up to 150 miles for care when higher-level services were unavailable. This new NICU helps reduce that burden while improving access to timely, appropriate care.
In addition to the NICU, The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville provides a comprehensive maternity care experience, including 24/7 obstetric hospitalists and an OB Emergency Department. This integrated approach ensures mothers and babies have immediate access to specialized care before, during and after delivery.
The NICU is expected to serve more than 100 additional newborns each year, supporting families with services that include respiratory support, developmental and feeding therapy, and continuous neonatal monitoring in a family-centered environment.
“This is about more than advanced technology — it’s about keeping families together,” said Andrew Grein, MD, Chief of Pediatrics for AdventHealth Hendersonville. “We can now provide the right level of care close to home, helping reduce stress for parents and improving the overall experience for families.”
The opening reflects AdventHealth Hendersonville’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to whole-person care across the region, supporting patients and families from their very first moments.
To learn more about the new Level II NICU – Special Care Nursery in The Baby Place at AdventHealth, visit AdventHealthNC.com.