Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Designed to be exceptionally sensitive to the needs of infants who need extra care, the private suites for babies in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are technologically advanced and comfortable, with ample space for families. Community North’s NICU provides advanced, private-room care, with neonatologists and other specialty physicians onsite around the clock.
Neonatal Intensive Care Suites (Floor 6 | Download floor maps)
36 large, private, developmentally-friendly neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) suites designed for advanced care and bonding with parents
- Special suites for multiples
- Sibling play room
- Six private suites for parents
- Neonatologists/specialty physicians on site 24/7
- The most advanced monitoring and communications system available—computerized light, heat, humidity and noise controls in the NICU reduce stress and enhance infant biological rhythms.
- Ample room in suites for families so they can be active in baby’s care
- Individual breast milk refrigerators/freezers
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Noise reduction technology keeps NICU quiet
Excerpted from Indystar.com, Nov. 5, 2007
Over the past decade, architects and others who design and build hospitals are finding ways to lower the din, employing a variety of noise-reduction methods ranging from using materials that tamp sound to making design tweaks in the hospital's layout that keep sound from traveling.
Community Health Network has also made design tweaks to achieve a quieter environment. Many units in the Community hospitals have situated the "slam and bang rooms" that stocked supplies in hallways away from patient rooms, said Mark Hayden, the network's senior project manager.
The hospital has also installed sound monitoring units in its neonatal units to alert staff and family members when the decibel level exceeds the threshold considered safe for developing preemies. A yellow light cautions that the sound is approaching dangerous levels and a red light calls for quiet.
"We're trying to use the principles of evidence-based design to get at improving the overall nature of environment so it's more conducive to healing and eliminating stress, and is a benefit for everyone," Hayden said.
