Tuesday, June 02, 2009
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NICU receives 2009 "Imagination at Work" award from GE Healthcare
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the new Critical Care Hospital at the VCU Medical Center has been gaining recognition as one of the most state-of-the-art facilities for newborns in the country. Its latest accolade comes from GE Healthcare Maternal Infant Care, which presented the unit with its 2009 “Imagination at Work” award. Representatives from GE Healthcare presented the award to Dr. Gary Gutcher, neonatologist and professor of pediatrics, and Sharon Cone, nurse manager, who accepted it on behalf of the NICU staff during a recent reception.
“This is quite an honor for us to be able to present this award to you,” said Dan Strauch, director of Strategic Marketing for GE Healthcare Maternal Infant Care. “GE’s guiding principle, ‘Imagination at Work,’ is inherent in the design of the NICU, from the rubber floors and acoustical ceilings that reduce noise to the adjustable overhead and auxiliary lighting that can be adjusted based on the gestational age of the infant.”
“The NICU is one-of-a-kind. I have not seen a NICU with all of these developmental care features in North America,” added Eric Bauer, general manager of Sales and Marketing for GE Healthcare Maternal Infant Care. “I am sure the word is out there in the Richmond region what a tremendous asset you have here at VCU.”
Established in 2007 by the Maternal Infant Care Division of GE Healthcare, the Imagination at Work award is intended to recognize innovation and exceptional dedication in the delivery of care in neonatal medicine through the concept and design of neonatal intensive care units. By identifying hospitals incorporating developmental and family-centered care as the guiding principle in the design of their NICU, GE Healthcare Maternal Infant Care continues its support of innovation in neonatal medicine.
“To be recognized for innovation in a nation of innovators by a company that is known for its innovation is pretty special,” said John Duval, CEO of MCV Hospitals. “We are truly honored to be receiving this award.”
Cone and Gutcher thanked everyone who played a part in the planning and design process of the new unit in the Critical Care Hospital from start to finish. “Our team’s priority in the creation of this unit was to create a collaborative environment, one that meets the needs of the baby, the families and the health care worker,” said Cone.
Some of the other features that make the VCU Medical Center’s NICU the most innovative in the Central Virginia region include:
- 32 private rooms, including in-room overnight accommodations for parents
- 4 double-patient rooms for multiples
- 2 negative pressure rooms
- Procedure room
- Family toilet/shower area
- Sibling playroom
- Family lounge
- Family resource center
For more information about the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the VCU Medical Center, call 804-828-1469.