Closer to Home: Prosper is Transforming Neonatal Care
Cook Children’s Medical Center Prosper has cared for more than 100 infants in the first neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) north of U.S. 380. Since opening in September, the medical center has operated the only NICU in a pediatric hospital serving a vast region stretching from East Texas to the Oklahoma border.
“People are truly choosing to come here,” said Tiffany Pullom, nurse manager for the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Pullom and Suzanne Whitbourne, M.D. neonatologist, noted that many admitted infants arrive through the emergency department. Families often share that they chose the Prosper location specifically for its specialized pediatric reputation and its proximity to home.
“We have a long history of taking care of the babies in our NICU (stemming from our flagship medical center in Fort Worth,” said Dr. Whitbourne, “I think a lot of the reassurance comes from that expertise and that experience that we have, and they can see it day by day.”
The NICU typically cares for and admits infants up to 30 days of age. Since its opening, the unit has primarily treated upper respiratory illnesses and babies transferred from surrounding delivery hospitals.
The NICU features:
- 11 beds: 10 private rooms, including a room for twins.
- Family-centered amenities: On-site laundry services and single rooms equipped with bathrooms, breast pumps, milk warmers, and refrigerators.
- Dedicated nutrition lab and formula mixing.
- Virtual connection: A bedside camera system that allows parents to see their babies via an app when they cannot be at the hospital.
Pullom said these amenities reflect Cook Children’s holistic approach to healthcare.
“We have our lactation services; we have speech therapy. We have a multitude of subspeciality specialists here,” said Pullom. “Anywhere from ear, nose, throat (ENT) to pediatric surgeons, pulmonologist and sleep studies can be done here.”
The care extends beyond the clinical needs of the infants to support the entire family. Case management and social workers assist parents with logistics, such as adding a newborn to an insurance policy.
“This facility supports families,” said Dr. Whitbourne. Having been with Cook Children’s Health Care System for 24 years, she believes established trust in the community is why families continue to choose their care.
Related Stories:
- Finding Her Voice: How North Texas’ Newest NICU Helped an East Texas Newborn Heal from Vocal Cord Paralysis
- Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper Opens Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Expanding Care for Newborns in One of the Nation’s Fastest Growing Regions
- Cook Children’s Looks to Expand Medical Campus to Keep Up with Unprecedented Growth in Fort Worth
