Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper Opens Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Expanding Care for Newborns in One of the Nation’s Fastest Growing Regions

Today marks a milestone for families in northern North Texas as Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper officially opens its state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Purpose-built to meet the urgent needs of a rapidly growing community, Cook Children’s - Prosper NICU is the first to be housed within a children’s hospital in the region.

"Our new NICU is a promise to families that their children will receive expert, compassionate care without having to leave their community," said Kevin Greene, President of Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper. "With each investment we make into our medical center and in our outpatient clinics, we are building a foundation for exceptional pediatric care close to home."

With more than 46,000 new residents moving to Prosper and surrounding cities each year, many of them young families, Cook Children's NICU ensures that even the smallest and most vulnerable patients have access to specialized pediatric care close to home.

“Unlike NICUs in adult hospitals, every physician, nurse and clinical team member here is exclusively trained in pediatrics,” said Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D., neonatologist and Chief Medical Officer at Cook Children’s Health Care System. “This means newborns benefit from care designed specifically for babies and children, backed by the full resources of Cook Children’s nationally recognized pediatric subspecialties.”

We can provide a consultation from a pediatric specialist in more than a dozen subspecialties, onsite. This significantly reduces the need for families to endure stressful transfers to other facilities, likely an hour away in Dallas or Fort Worth.

In the event a baby needs the highest level of medical care, they can be seen via telehealth by physicians at the Level IV NICU at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth, and quickly transferred by Teddy Bear Transport, if necessary.

 We are a multidisciplinary, holistic care team led by Neonatologists. Cook Children's is committed to growing the NICU in both size and capabilities, and currently, our NICU features:

• 10 rooms, including a room for twins (11 beds total)
• Single rooms with bathrooms, breast pumps, milk warmers and refrigerators
• Dedicated nutrition lab and formula mixing
• Bedside camera system so parents can see their babies via an app when they’re away

Designed with families in mind, every detail of the NICU is crafted to support both patients and their loved ones. Bright, whimsical colors and geometric shapes create an uplifting and calming environment, while bold polka dots and playful floor designs serve as a thoughtful wayfinding system, helping parents and visitors navigate the space with ease.

 Every feature, from the oversized rooms that allow for more family members to gather to the extra cabinetry for personal storage, prioritizes comfort, privacy and convenience during what can be a stressful time. Each room provides dedicated sleep spaces for parents, ensuring loved ones can remain close to their baby at all times.

“The opening of this NICU reflects Cook Children’s continued mission to improve the well-being of every child in our care and strengthen the health of our communities,” said Sheralyn Hartline, DNP, RN, CENP, RNC-NIC, Vice President, Nursing and Patient Care at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper. “We’re looking forward to growing further to meet the needs of families.”