News

Palmdale Regional Medical Center’s maternity unit, The Birth Place, now offers a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for preterm and term newborns requiring specialized care. Babies will be treated and monitored around the clock by specialists in obstetrics, pediatrics, neonatal nursing, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, social services and nutrition. The ability to consult with neonatologists is also a feature of the unit. The NICU has six beds, with one of them being an isolation bed.

A Level II NICU is also called a special care nursery. It is designed to care for babies who have moderate medical issues and are expected to recover fairly quickly.

The Level II NICU at Palmdale Regional is able to treat:

• Newborn and premature infants born at or after 32 weeks’ gestation, who weigh at least 3.3 pounds, and are stable or moderately ill
• Full-term babies who require close monitoring for low blood sugar levels and jaundice
• Newborns with problems that should resolve rapidly and are not expected to need urgent sub-specialty level services

Our staff is available 24/7 for ongoing care and in case of emergencies. They provide services such as respiratory support, feeding assistance, treating infections, and more. They can provide assisted or mechanical ventilation on a short-term basis, preferably under 24 hours. Specialized infant equipment used in the NICU includes incubators to keep babies warm, ventilators or nasal tubes to help babies breathe easier, and monitors to track vital signs and alert staff to the baby’s needs.

Obstetrical Emergency Department (OB-ED)

Palmdale Regional is also pleased to announce its new Obstetrical Emergency Department (OB-ED) in The Birth Place. Our OB-ED is equipped with triage beds where board-certified obstetricians and certified labor and delivery nurses specially trained in treating high-risk pregnancies provide evaluations, assessments and medical screening exams for pregnant women who are in need of immediate care. The OB-ED helps to ensure that patients receive timely, specialized care by providers experienced in managing obstetrical emergencies.

The OB-ED provides pregnant women with immediate access to a physician at all hours. Whether patients present with a life-endangering emergency or a less urgent need, patients are evaluated and treated quickly and efficiently by a highly trained obstetrics physician. For women who are at least 20 weeks pregnant and may be experiencing an OB emergency, the OB-ED is conveniently located directly inside The Birth Place unit.

The OB-ED treats women presenting to the hospital with pregnancy and postpartum-related obstetrical concerns. Conditions commonly treated in an OB-ED include:

• Abdominal pain
• Preterm labor
• Preeclampsia
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Ruptured membranes
• Labor checks
• Bladder infections
• Decreased fetal movement
• Increased blood pressure

Our OB-ED not only provides emergency care access to maternity patients in our community, but also offers added reassurance for expectant patients who may be coping with chronic health concerns. Health conditions such as diabetes, obesity or hypertension can lead to complications and premature births. The OB-ED responds to these healthcare concerns and gives access to emergency OB treatment in a setting that is dedicated to special obstetrical needs. This encompasses an experienced team of OB hospitalists here 24/7, dedicated anesthesiologists, specialty-trained nurses, and a level II NICU.