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In This Issue:
This year, 17 isolettes will be retired from the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). More than 20 years ago, these isolettes were heralded as cutting-edge but are now outdated. “To help this specialized patient population not only survive, but thrive, more advanced technology is needed,” said Marian Metcalfe, RN, nurse manager, NICU.
A team from the NICU identified the Giraffe Incubator as a prime solution to their equipment challenge. The Giraffe bed is a state-of-the-art piece of equipment engineered specifically to meet the diverse and complex needs of very low birth weight infants. It combines the best aspects of two standard devices, the open warmer and the incubator isolette. Now, BWH’s youngest patients have a few more “Friends” they can count on – the NICU’s grant, one of the largest awarded in 2002, will go toward the purchase of a new Giraffe incubator.
“This piece of equipment will greatly enhance our ability to deliver developmentally appropriate care to our most fragile patients,” said Metcalfe. “We are most grateful to the Friends for this spectacular gift.”
This year the Friends of BWH awarded 42 proposals totaling more than $300,000 in funding. “It is extremely satisfying to be able to provide both tangible and intangible support for such a worthy cause,” said Ardell Otten, president, Friends of BWH. “The Friends are deeply committed to maintaining this important connection as well as continuing to support the high standards of care delivered at BWH,” she added.