A part of a substantive renovation and expansion of their existing maternity program, Paoli wanted to shape a state of the art NICU that would support program expansion. The final plan accommodates a potential of 12-14 infant care bays/rooms; Phase I provided an initial 6 semiprivate bassinets and an isolation room. The plan focuses on shaping a six-bay pod supported by a satellite clinical control station that promotes direct visualization and immediate care for the patient.
Accommodation of parents was also a critical part of the project mission, and the semiprivate bays were sized to accommodate the infant, a clinical care team and the parents with comfort. In addition, the interior design focused on shaping an environment that was calm and purposefully non-institutional. Thus, sliding doors are used in lieu of standard hospital curtains, and furniture was selected that responds to the needs for both infection control and family comfort.
