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Presbyterian's Hemby Intensive Care Nursery recently moved into its brand new location inside Presbyterian Women's Center. Hemby ICN is now centrally located with Presbyterian Hospital's other maternity services.

Hemby ICN is designated as a Level IV nursery - the highest designation given by the state of North Carolina and is able to treat all babies, including critically ill or premature newborns, as well as provide all subspecialty services, including cardiology and surgery.

Hemby ICN serves as a referral center for surrounding counties and is staffed around-the-clock by a multidisciplinary team comprised of board-certified neonatologists, registered nurses, respiratory therapists and specially-trained neonatal nurse practitioners. In addition to the team of specialists, the nursery is also staffed by a discharge planning nurse, a social worker, an occupational therapist, a nutritionist, a pharmacist and a speech therapist. A devoted neonatal transport team is available to bring babies requiring Level IV care to Presbyterian from hospitals up to 120 miles away.

"The new Hemby ICN is quieter and more spacious," said neonatologist Dr. Larry Brady, medical director of Hemby ICN. "It's more of a healing environment now."

The new nursery is considerably larger than the previous 20-year-old unit, with 38 intensive care nursery beds, two isolation rooms and a sophisticated procedure room. It also features two private Parents' Place apartments, which allow parents to learn how to care for their baby under the supervision of neonatal ICN staff.

"We spent about five years planning the new ICN," said Jan Thompson, RN, nurse manager of Hemby ICN. "Nurses were involved from the beginning and incorporated input from parents every step of the way."

The beds are arranged in a pod system, which creates more privacy for the patients and their families. Each pod holds four to six babies in each area, and babies are separated by dividers and curtains.

"Privacy is very important," said Thompson. "The pod arrangement will help eliminate additional stress that families may feel from other babies."

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