BP Fossella allocates $2 million to RUMC for neonatal and pediatric unit renovations

Funding will allow expansion of quality care and treatments for SI newborns, children 

Borough President Vito J. Fossella announced this evening the allocation of $2 million to Richmond University Medical Center for the expansion of the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units which focus on the treatment of the most vulnerable newborns and children. 

The existing Neonatal Intensive care Unit (NICU) will be renovated to accommodate 25 infants and maximize the quantity of private rooms by incorporating bays and cubicles to meet the adequate number of infant stations. Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) will also expand the Pediatric Intensive care Unit (PICU) to accommodate current space requirements for 3 cribs. 
 
“We are pleased to allocate funding to Richmond University Medical Center as they have been crucial in saving the lives of so many babies throughout the years. These two units at RUMC are highly regarded for their care of newborns and children, and it is an honor to support them for this work,” said Borough President Fossella. “Families across Staten Island and beyond will be able to access more available resources at RUMC with the knowledge and relief of receiving quality care. This funding will also allow their great team to continue to save and treat newborns with a space that’s better for parent-baby bonding and overall satisfaction. This allocation underscores the standard of excellence and quality of care we know exists in our borough.”  

“On behalf of our board of trustees and everyone throughout our organization, a tremendous thank you to Borough President Fossella for his support of our hospital, and especially our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” said Richmond University Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE. “His support will benefit the many newborns and their families that require the advanced, specialized care provided by our experienced physicians, nurses, and medical professionals in our Level III NICU. Our NICU, which specializes in the care of high-risk newborns, some weighing only one pound when born, has a survival rate that stands at over 99%, one of the highest survival rates in the country. For over five decades, more than 30,000 newborns have received care in our NICU, which features state of the art technology and provides leading medically proven effective treatments to care for our youngest patients. Borough President Fossella’s commitment to RUMC is also a commitment to ensuring Staten Island families have continued access to the highest quality medical care available without having to leave Staten Island.”
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“Thank you to the Borough President for his generous support of RUMC and our NICU,” said Santosh Parab, MD, Director of RUMC’s NICU. “With his help we will be able to further upgrade our unit, greatly enhancing the care we provide so families can continue to see RUMC as Staten Island’s best source of critical care for their newborns. We are honored that so many families have entrusted their children’s care to us. By taking care of us and our hospital, the borough president is also taking care of families across Staten Island.”
 
The scope of work for the expansion will include:

•  New NICU pods and space for families as well as required clinical support spaces including treatment room, infant nutrition areas, lactation support, soiled, clean, equipment and med rooms, and staff support areas including lounge, lockers, and toilet areas.
• Refigure and expand the existing 3,600 square foot NICU footprint to approximately 7,950 square feet, including all current ADA and FGI space requirements.
• Create a new corridor for access into the Pediatric Unit that will bypass the NICU expansion space.
• Two current negative pressure isolation rooms will be relocated and designed with current ADA standards. The new location of the isolation rooms shall be adjacent to the PICU and be designed so that one can be an ICU room if needed.
• Bring the PICU unit to 2018 FGI code to provide the current square footage requirements for the redesigned PICU.
• Reconfigure and expand the existing 190 sq. feet PICU footprint to 900 sq. feet to bring it up to current ADA and FGI space requirements and to enhance family experience and staff efficiency.