Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

We’re well on our way to upgrading to a Level III NICU (from a Level II Special Care Nursery); construction is expected to be complete with Level III NICU designation in 2027. This transition will enable us to care for babies born as early as 26 weeks gestation. The transition will also include expanding the current nursery, acquiring new equipment, and recruiting additional staff.

The expansion to a Level III NICU at United Regional will:

• Provide care for babies born as early as 26 weeks gestation.
• Allow more families to stay close to home and to the vital support systems they rely on.
• Ensure 24/7 neonatology coverage, supported by specially trained staff and advanced medical technology.
• Double the space of the current Special Care nursery, expanding from 3,000 to 6,000 square feet to better accommodate patients and families.
• Include 14 licensed NICU bed spaces, featuring six open bays and eight private rooms for individualized care.
• Feature a newly renovated six-bed full-term nursery to serve less acute newborns.
• Offer Angel Eye Cameras at each Giraffe NICU bed, giving families real-time video access to their newborns even when they can’t be at the bedside.
• Utilize jet ventilators and high-frequency oscillating ventilators to support the delicate respiratory needs of extremely low birthweight infants — those weighing just one to three pounds.

By providing this critical care locally, we can prevent families from needing to travel to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This will allow mothers to stay close to family and will reduce the financial burden associated with travel and accommodation expenses. United Regional is our region’s primary healthcare resource, making our commitment to care even more important for those who rely on us to provide the services they need, close to home.