Now, when a newborn baby arrives prematurely or needs extensive medical monitoring, he or she can receive specialized treatment locally at the Nash General Hospital Women’s Center, which also means that parents can stay closer to loved ones in their own community.  Nash Health Care, with cooperation from DukeMedicine, opened a Special Care Nursery that features a 9-bed neonatal unit.

Sometimes, the miracle of birth may be accompanied by unexpected complications, and because this Special Care Nursery is available locally, these newborns will not have to be transferred to another facility, which is easier on parents and relatives, according to Mary Strickland, director of Women’s Services at Nash General Hospital.

The Nash Special Care Nursery is a DukeMedicine affiliate. Dr. Kamlesh Athavale, a board-certified neonatologist with DukeMedicine, is a member of the highly skilled neonatal team and will be working with health care professionals at Nash General Hospital.

The Special Care Nursery features:

·         A 9-bed neonatal unit located adjacent to the labor-delivery and Mother-baby units.

·         24-hour care staffed with a highly skilled neonatal team consisting of a board-certified Duke neonatologist, Duke neonatal nurse-practitioners, community pediatricians and Nash neonatal nurses.

·         A team specialized in resuscitating and stabilizing critically ill babies and managing common problems in newborns.

·         Comprehensive care for newborn babies born prematurely from 32 weeks gestation and up or infants with breathing problems and suspected infections at birth.

The Special Care Nursery is scheduled to officially open this summer.