The Neonatology Service moved from Jefferson Davis Hospital located on Allen Parkway into the Ben Taub General Hospital Newborn Intensive Care Unit in June of 1990. The newly constructed newborn ICU addressed the care of the critically ill newborn infant by being a spacious, well-designed facility connected to the Labor and Delivery Suites.
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Over the course of the last two decades, the national trends in neonatal care have been re-focused to address the developmental needs of the critically ill newborn infant. In addition, the neonatal multidisciplinary team has recognized the importance of integrating family involvement in the care of their infant i.e. Family-Centered Care. These new care initiatives have required the adaptation of the old Neonatal Intensive Care Unit lighting grid to provide individualized lighting patterns based on each patient/family needs.
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If we were going to provide intensive care that supports a developmentally-friendly and family-friendly environment, the old grid of all lights on or off would not work. Soft lighting should enhance a quiet environment for both patient and family; however, bright, focused light for intensive care procedures should be immediately accessible for each patient. Critical to individualized care mandated that the bright lighting should not spill over to the next bed where a family would be visiting with their infant.
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The completion of this new lighting configuration fulfills a dream of our service for over 15 years. The Arnold J. Rudolph Neonatal Intensive Care Unit appreciates and thanks the Foundation for the financial support of this invaluable lighting project. The positive effects of this new lighting have touched our families and the neonatal care team who spend hours with these critically ill infants in our ICU.