NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Forrest General’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ensures that most infants receive specialized care without the need of transfer to another hospital. Babies born prematurely or with special needs may be admitted to the NICU. This specialized unit is staffed by neonatologists, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, a secretary, and advance care techs. They are pleased to answer any questions you may have about the NICU.

Forrest General’s NICU is one of only a few in the nation to offer “family-centered care” – a concept that allows parents to remain with their child at all times during their stay in the NICU. As one of the most modern and highly advanced units in the nation, the NICU features expanded space, state-of-the-art design, advanced medical care, and heightened technology – delivered by caring, experienced physicians and staff. Visit the online video at www.forresthealth.org/nicu.

NICU Patio

The Forrest General NICU is complemented by an outdoor patio which is accessible to NICU families only. The patio offers a peaceful setting for families to get a breath of fresh air, talk on their phones, and have conversations among themselves. Some of the patio features include a serene water feature, fans for hot days, heaters for the winter, and comfortable furniture. Donations made through the Life’s Little Miracles mural and to the NICU maintain the upkeep of the rooftop patio and meet other needs of the NICU babies.

NICU WebCam System

Bonding with your baby is one of the greatest joys of parenting. For parents of a premature or sick baby, bonding is often interrupted as infants are moved to the NICU for extended care. Now, parents of NICU babies can bond with muchneeded screen time. Forrest General offers webcams as a free service to NICU families so parents can see their baby from anywhere they have access to the internet. Webcams do not take the place of visits and hands-on care parents can provide, but the webcam can provide a way for a family to stay connected. It also provides a way for those who are too small or too far away to see the newest member of your family. Parents will be asked to sign a written consent and then will receive a username and password, which they can share with others or choose to keep private.

Neonatal Transport

Forrest General features a dedicated Neonatal Transport vehicle that has all the characteristics of a regular ambulance for adults but is specially designed to accommodate some of the Pine Belt’s tiniest patients.

The vehicle provides a way to transport critical infants with the help of Forrest General’s Neonatal Transport Team, which is the second oldest neonatal transport team in Mississippi. The team has the great responsibility of transporting critically-ill infants, either from a hospital in Forrest General’s 19-county service area to Forrest General, or from Forrest General to another treatment facility. The Neonatal Transport vehicle is large enough to transport two babies at once, accompanied by staff members. The space also includes a blanket warmer, refrigerator for breast milk and other equipment as well as features needed during such a delicate transport. This vehicle was made possible by a collaboration between the transport team, Forrest General Administration, and AAA Ambulance Administration, bringing this vehicle designed specifically for the needs of tiny patients to the Pine Belt.