With the recent investment of one million dollars at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Laredo Medical Center’s tiniest patients are in good hands.

The investment made in the NICU department comes in the form of 20 new beds for the premature babies in the unit. Eight of the beds are Radiant Warmers. These are highly technical beds that have many features built into the bed that allows the premature baby minimal movement after being born. Some of the features include built-in oxygen, a scale, and a swivel mattress so the baby remains in one location when needing to undergo evaluations.

An additional four beds purchased with the investment are Omni Beds. These include all the features found in Radiant Warmers, but are incubators as well. In this bed, the premature baby is not exposed to unnecessary stimulation, such as bright lights, adding a better sense of security. The bed also includes built-in photo therapy lights for those babies needing extra care. These highly advanced beds are used for premature babies born under 30 weeks.

Each new bed also includes mounted monitors that keep track of all the baby’s vital signs, including the heart, respiratory, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Each monitor is then connected to a centralized monitoring station viewed around the clock by NICU trained nurses and physicians.

Ronald McDonald Family Room

Laredo Medical Center has partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities to provide families in the area a place of comfort through an in-house Ronald McDonald Room.

The Family Room is in close proximity to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Pediatric Unit. It serves families with a place to stay while their child is being cared for at Laredo Medical Center. The room is a comfortable, inviting space with a mini kitchen, washer/dryer, TV, computer, and reading area where families can support one another. It is staffed by volunteers and overseen by the Ronald McDonald Charity in San Antonio.

Research shows when families are near their kids, children heal faster. And by staying close to their kids, parents can better communicate with their child’s medical team which will help them better understand any treatment plans being done to their kids or those they may have to perform themselves in their home once their child is released from the hospital.

For more information on staying in the Ronald McDonald Family Room, call Laredo Medical Center’s Marketing Department at 956-796-3223.