Private Rooms Help Preemies
Reported December 20, 2004
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) — Each year, about 8 percent of children in the United States are born prematurely. Most of these babies spend weeks in the hospital before they gain enough weight to go home. But new intensive care rooms are becoming a home away from home for these preemies and their families.
This hospital room is home for baby Marc. Like many preemies, he spent the first months of his life in an intensive care unit. Then, doctors moved him to his very own private room.
Traditional intensive care units lump babies together in one large area. These individual rooms make for a more intimate environment.
Marc’s dad, Ed Edwards, says, “The privacy. It’s quiet, so I think he’s been sleeping a lot better. It’s really nice.”
Eduardo Lugo, M.D., a neonatologist at Florida Children’s Hospital in Orlando, says loud noises, alarms and other babies’ crying can interfere with development. That’s not a problem for babies in the private rooms. “It seems to work better with the babies. They seem to develop better. Some studies have shown they tend to go home earlier,” Dr. Lugo tells Ivanhoe.
Parents love the home-like environment.
Ed says, “Sitting with him and holding him, we can spend hours doing that, and he loves it.”
So does Monica Schumacher’s preemie, Delaney. “She just seems happier. She smiles a lot more. It’s amazing how much she smiles,” Monica says. She’s happy here, but mom says she can’t wait to take her “miracle” baby home. “My husband and I are looking forward to just enjoying the moment, where you walk in the door, and she’s with us.”
Until that day, this is as close to home as they can get.
Dr. Lugo says there are only a few centers around the country that offer private rooms for babies in intensive care. He says there is no difference in cost. The private rooms at Dr. Lugo’s hospital are reserved for the sickest babies.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Heather Allebaugh
Media Relations
Florida Hospital
616 E. Rollins Street
Suite 103
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 303-1917