WHAS Crusade for Children supports UofL Hospital NICU

New technology coming to UofL Health – UofL Hospital will better ensure proper oxygen levels for newborns, critical for development and good health. This advanced care is made possible by an $84,000 grant from the WHAS Crusade for Children.

Newborn babies can develop neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), which reduces oxygen flow to the brain. While some children may experience no health issues from HIE, for others it can be fatal or cause long term disabilities. Recent studies have shown decreasing a baby’s temperature can reduce injury to the brain. This new equipment will cool the baby and safely maintain the body temperature lower than normal.

“We’re thankful to have a partner in WHAS Crusade for Children that understands the importance of investing in our littlest of patients,” said Reetta Stikes, Center for Women & Infants director at UofL Hospital. “Reduced oxygen increases the risk for developmental delays, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and cognitive impairment. But now we can decrease the risk by decreasing the infant’s temperature.”

The grant will support UofL Hospital’s purchase of three key pieces of technology to improve outcomes for HIE impacted newborns:

  • ARCTIC SUN – a temperature management system
  • OLYMPIC BRAINZ MONITOR – customized device to monitor brain activity
  • INVOS NIRS – real-time monitoring of oxygen levels in the brain

UofL Hospital’s Center for Women & Infants supports both low and high-risk pregnancies and includes a 24 bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

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UofL Health is a fully integrated regional academic health system with nine hospitals, four medical centers, Brown Cancer Center, Eye Institute, nearly 200 physician practice locations, and more than 1,000 providers in Louisville and the surrounding counties, including southern Indiana. Additional access to UofL Health is provided through a partnership with Carroll County Memorial Hospital. Affiliated with the University of Louisville School of Medicine, UofL Health is committed to providing patients with access to the most advanced care available. This includes clinical trials, collaboration on research and the development of new technologies to both save and improve lives. With more than 14,000 team members – physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists and other highly-skilled health care professionals, UofL Health is focused on one mission: to transform the health of communities we serve through compassionate, innovative, patient-centered care.

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