Now Open: Private Rooms for Our Smallest Patients

Some of the smallest babies were on the move at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford—and for an exciting reason. In late February, they settled into the Axe and Blaise Wanstrath Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, designed to enhance the care and comfort of newborns and their families.

“This new patient unit is evidence of our unwavering commitment to family-centered care, ensuring that every mother and newborn experience the highest quality start to life and their lifetime,” says Paul A. King, CEO of Packard Children’s Hospital and Stanford Medicine Children’s Health

The NICU is home to fragile babies facing a variety of respiratory, cardiac, and neurological complications. Some stay for just a few days, others for weeks or months. The care they receive at this critical stage can shape their entire lifetime.

The new NICU features 12 private patient rooms and two semi-private rooms for twins or multiples. A complete transformation from the previous open-bay NICU, the new rooms provide a quiet environment more conducive to recovery and development. These private rooms also decrease the risk of infection, shorten hospital stays, and improve parental involvement, according to research.

Parents now have space to stay in their child’s room overnight, and medical teams have the space they need to conduct cutting-edge procedures on the spot. Increased privacy along with control of light and noise levels will reduce stress for families, promoting bonding and breastfeeding.

This incredible transformation was made possible by our generous donor community. If you’d like to be a part of our work to give expectant moms and fragile babies the healthiest start in life, consider making a gift today.