The Salem Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) had a busy 2024, managing close to 500 admissions. Many of those included twin and triplet babies in need of critical care.

NICU Medical Director Matt Egalka, MD, said his team is equipped to admit infants born as early as 25 weeks gestation — 15 weeks before their due dates. Some of those newborns weigh less than 500 grams (just over a pound). As the only NICU in the mid-Willamette Valley, Salem Health’s NICU is ready and equipped to welcome the tiniest of patients, even when many other health systems may have to turn them away.

“We have not had to close ourselves to admissions, unlike many of our partners in Portland who may go on divert when their census is high. We don’t close — we will find room and staff and continue to provide excellent care here, close to the baby’s home.”

Dr. Egalka said Salem Health ensures appropriate staffing coverage in the NICU to manage emergency deliveries, which can occur at any time, day or night. Vital personnel include highly specialized nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists and neonatologists.  

Dedicated space and staff for NICU care

Kacy Bradshaw, NNP, lead neonatal nurse practitioner, said the NICU always wants to make sure beds are available for unexpected admissions.

“We partner with our wonderful group of pediatric hospitalists when our census is high. We feel fortunate to be able to lean on our Salem Health teammates to care for this high-risk population,” she said.

Patient-focused, personalized care

“Patient safety and quality improvement are always at the forefront of care in our NICU,” Bradshaw said. “We evaluate our care continually and work locally, regionally and even nationally to ensure we are providing the best possible care to our patients.”

Assistant Nurse Manager Dillon Easton, RN, said his team is always focused on improving the care of micropreemies, or babies born before 28 weeks of pregnancy, to better serve patients and families.  

“This year we are leading a lot of hands-on simulations. We are focused on the delivery practices of low-gestational-age infants, simulating delivery itself and what that care looks like from the moment they are born through their first hour of life,” Easton said.

NICU and Pediatric Nurse Manager Andrea Bell, RN, said it takes a team effort to continue improving the health and well-being of the infants, their families and communities we serve.

“There are not just a few small projects,” Bell said. “We have committees for everything — a quality initiative committee, a respiratory committee, a developmental care committee focused on brain development, and a committee that focuses on respect for people to include our staff — all are staff-led!”

Dr. Egalka said families whose babies are transferred to a NICU in Portland for a higher level of care (for surgery, for example) are quick to ask when they can return to Salem Health.

“They want to come back because they really enjoy the personalized care we provide,” he said.

Deliver your baby at Salem Hospital

Learn more here if you’re looking to deliver your baby at Salem Hospital. Our tiniest patients are expertly cared for by a team of neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, registered nurses, lactation consultants, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, certified nursing assistants and pharmacists.