ATLANTA — Resources are being given to help strengthen healthcare for newborn babies in metro Atlanta.
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff announced on Wednesday that he is delivering federal money to upgrade Emory University Hospital Midtown's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with new equipment. The NICU is designed for infants who need more care and medical attention.
Sen. Ossoff reached across party lines to deliver $536,000 for the project through this year's bipartisan government funding package, according to a release.
"For struggling newborn and premature babies, the NICU is a matter of life or death. That’s why I’ve appropriated funds to upgrade the NICU at Emory Midtown," Ossoff said.
CEO of Emory University Hospital Midtown, Adam Webb, said the money allows them to update vital equipment, such as purchasing updated cooling machines, all-in-one incubators, and a point-of-care ultrasound machine. The ultrasound, in particular, will allow them to optimize timely diagnosis, care quality and clinical outcomes for the babies, Webb said.
"Emory University Hospital Midtown is proud to play an important role in the Atlanta Regional Perinatal Center, which serves 40 North Georgia Counties," Webb stated. "As Emory works with partners across the state to improve healthy outcomes for mothers and babies, we appreciate Senator Ossoff championing this important funding."
Webb also said the location is a level III NICU unit that cares for over 800 critically ill infants a year. He said that the unique services they provide as a referral site include special cooling therapy to reduce brain injury, continuous neonatal seizure monitoring and treatment, care of extremely premature babies born as early as 22 weeks gestation, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).