Specialists at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics call it a dream come true for patientsÑa new maternity center and neonatal intensive care unit that offers the most comprehensive technology available, combined with the ultimate in family-friendly features.

Inside the new UI Maternity Center, new parents will find spacious delivery and recovery rooms. The focus is on the family, so each room features a more home-like environment, including double beds, whirlpool baths, internet access, and even DVD players. A team of highly-trained specialists is also available to both mother and baby.

"For the patient it's just the resources of all the consultants, not only in ob/gyn, but in the entire institution. If there's anything the matter with them or the baby, they get tertiary-level care in a home-like environment," says Jennifer Niebyl, M.D., head of the UI Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The UI Maternity Center is adjacent to Iowa's only comprehensive neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This is where specialists care for the tiniest and most critically ill babies in the region. The new unit provides a wealth of benefits for its young patients.

"We expect the babies are going to be more likely to survive in good health and be more likely to go home a little sooner if the parents are able to take advantage of this new facility," says Edward Bell, M.D., NICU medical director.

The new unit has 55 beds, each in its own room. This allows for better infection control, more privacy, and a quieter environment - all important features for premature and critically ill babies.

The new NICU at UI Hospitals and Clinics also features an advanced communications system that allows nurses to closely monitor their patients. It's part of an $23.6 million project that also includes a new pediatric intensive care unit.

For more information:

University of Iowa Children's Hospital