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| Medical Leader | Photo courtesy of Vanna D. Photography |
MIRACLE BABY: Young Zane Tackett spent nine days in Pikeville Medical Center's NICU after he suffered from low oxygen levels. PMC's NICU provides the best care possible to newborns. |
Pikeville Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is devoted to meeting this need.
"Our NICU and staff are dedicated to improving babies lifes and giving them a shot at life," said PMC neonatologist Dr. Matthew Todd Hambleton.
PMC is the only regional hospital with a delivery service and a NICU. The unit is staffed by doctors, nurses and support personnel, who work together to care for infants. A neonatologist is available 24/7 and the NICU has an open visitation policy, only closing during shift changes.
"PMC staff knows that having a parent with the infant as much as possible is comforting to both child and parent. We encourage parents to talk to the infant and as they progress, the parent is able to feed, bathe, diaper and dress the infant," Jeanette Sexton, Director of the NICU, said.
Doctors often see that a baby's recovery progresses quicker with the interaction of their family. It is important to treat them locally, when possible.
PMC's NICU offers a transport service for this reason. Trained and experienced employees will go to area hospitals to transport patients back to PMC for the duration of their treatment.
Trent and Tiffany Tackett of Stambaugh had their son, Zane, transported to the PMC NICU the day he was born. Due to low oxygen levels, Zane stayed in the NICU for nine days.
Tiffany said, "The staff treated Zane like he was one of their own. You could feel how much love they had for the babies. If we weren't with him, we could call at any time and they would tell us exactly what he had been doing."
Before a patient is discharged from the NICU, the patient's family is educated on how to care for the infant at home.
This includes daily infant care, infant CPR and breastfeeding.
"The staff was so patient and worked with us to learn how to care for him, even how to change his diaper. It was wonderful to have someone teach us those things," she said.
Zane is now four months old and thriving.
If you would like more information about the transport service to PMC's NICU, please contact Jeanette Sexton at 606-218-5274.