Allegheny Health Network's historic NICU expansion: 4 things to know

Morgan Haefner -

Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network West Penn Hospital debuted its new neonatal intensive care unit Jan. 9.

Four things to know:

1. The 23-bed unit includes all private rooms, with three rooms designed for twins. It marks the largest expansion of the NICU in the hospital's history.

2. If a parent or guardian can't be at the child's bedside, the hospital now has cameras that allow them to monitor and visit with their babies from any location via smartphone, tablet or laptop.

3. The new unit is the first phase of the hospital's NICU expansion, which will continue over the next year. The unit will be able to accommodate 63 babies and their families when it is completed in 2020.

4. Each year, West Penn Hospital's NICU treats more than 1,000 critically ill infants and acts as a referral center for advanced neonatal care. Ten neonatologist physicians, more than 100 nurses and a team of nurse practitioners staff the unit.

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