Advancing NICU Care with a New Multi-purpose Room Concept

Abstract

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) design has been evolving in significant ways in response to changes in neonatal care, based on continuing research. The single family room concept has gained broad acceptance for improving the physical environment for the preterm baby and its family while in the NICU. While there are many benefits associated with the single family room, there are some scenarios in the NICU that could benefit from the development of larger, multi-purpose patient rooms. The extended family room is a design concept for a new patient room prototype; one that has the flexibility to accommodate some of these additional care scenarios, such as couplet care for mothers immediately after birth, the birth of multiples, group care, hospice care, and super-critical babies.