The new NICU can be found at the Mt. Auburn Campus in Cincinnati.

The Christ Hospital Health Network To Offer a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The Facility Will Help Babies and Parents During Their Stay

CINCINNATI (January 19, 2023) – The Christ Hospital will soon offer Level III Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care services for newborns and their parents at our main campus in Mt. Auburn. Our enhanced NICU will allow The Christ Hospital to provide its exceptional care to even younger babies and those born with serious illnesses, along with mothers who are at higher risk during pregnancy and delivery.

“As our women’s health team continues to expand, this Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit helps us to fulfill our mission of delivering exceptional outcomes and the finest experiences to meet the needs of a wider population of patients who have very specialized needs,” said Debbie Hayes, President and CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “We are committed to growing the scope and expertise of the services that we offer ensuring that the community members in our region have the very finest clinical care and experiences all at an affordable cost.”

Level III NICUs are equipped with specialty healthcare providers and technology to care for babies born prematurely and who require specialized care. This includes babies born as early as 23 weeks of gestation, babies of low birth weight and births involving twins, triplets and multiples. These newborns often need extra support to continue their physical and neurological development outside the womb and who may also need specialty equipment or advanced medications because of their complicated medical conditions.

“Enhancing our abilities to care for even more complex patients in the Level III NICU enables us to provide a more comprehensive suite of clinical offerings to our patients particularly to those mothers and babies who are at greater risks for serious illnesses or complications,” said Leanne Olshavsky, MD, Director of Women’s Health at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Our patients choose our birthing centers because of the unrivaled clinical expertise, experiences, education and care we provide to them. This new NICU elevates that level of care.”

The 6,635 sq. ft-unit contains 14 Level III NICU bays, including one private isolation room, one bay set up for twins, an entire room with three bays for triplets, a specialized pharmacy and formula preparation areas. In addition, there are spaces available for parents to stay with their baby prior to birth and the ability to “test drive” going home with medical professionals close at hand. The unit is constructed with the needs of parents and our tiniest babies in mind including special acoustic designs to control noise, as well as BIOS circadian lighting system to simulate ambient cycle lighting. Special features such as short and tall sinks that parents and siblings can use as they enter the unit are all part of the patient-centered design.

The Christ Hospital Health Network also partnered with The Cincinnati Zoo to enhance the ambiance of the physical space incorporating artwork, created by some of the zoo animals, into the design of the entire unit. This provides an inviting and playful atmosphere for families during their stay.

“We are excited to partner with The Christ Hospital Health Network by providing artwork from some of the zoo’s favorite animals," said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard. "The murals are bright, cheery and a fun way to welcome babies into the world. The original animal art is the largest collection from the Cincinnati Zoo and we feel honored to help celebrate with families for years to come."

To learn more about the NICU, click here. To see video of the animal art provided by the Cincinnati Zoo, click here.