Update on Status of NICU Negotiations

No agreement has yet been reached in response to CPMC's stated intention to close the SLH NICU. It has been brought to my attention that my recent blog was premature, and it has been edited to reflect that to minimize confusion. Mea culpa!

Any final proposal must be reveiwed by all nursing, as well as medical staff concerned, and administration. Nothing will be agreed to by health care staff that will compromise the standard of care necessary for safe deliveries at St Luke's Hospital!

A comment from a reader of the blog asked just what the "agreement" meant in terms of a change in level of care.........
What has been discussed as a possible compromise would not technically qualify for what could be officially called a NICU, yet it is believed to provide adequate resources to continue safe birthing practice. It is called a Special Care Nursery: resusitation of a distressed newborn could take place as needed, IV fuilds, respirator support, and oxygen provided, etc. If an infant needed such support on an ongoing and intensive basis, and depending on other special intensive care required, it would be transfered to the NICU at CPMC. This would not represent much change, some medical staff assure us, in the present and current practice at St. Lukes.