SoutheastHEALTH Auxiliary pledges money for NICU renovations

The SoutheastHEALTH Auxiliary has pledged $50,000 to help fund the renovation of Southeast Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The auxiliary's mission is to foster goodwill toward the hospital, financially and in other ways.

Construction on the project began in late October, said Mark Bliss, publications editor at the hospital.

The eight-bed renovation includes installing a NICVIEW webcam system, single stations for family privacy and renovating the newborn nursery and family waiting area, according to a news release from the hospital. Renovations are scheduled to be finished by late next month.

The webcam system will provide a real-time video link to parents and family, including those not present at the hospital, so they may keep an eye on their newborns in the NICU.

The renovation also is meant to create a private, noise-controlled and more spacious environment for babies.

The auxiliary already has donated $30,000 to the project through fundraising and member contributions. A fundraiser is scheduled for November to help complete funding for the project.

Follow-up questions regarding the NICU renovation were not answered by Southeast Hospital as of Thursday evening.

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