STILLWATER — Stillwater Medical, in partnership with Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health, celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the OnCue Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the only Level II NICU in north-central Oklahoma with a dedicated neonatologist and 24-hour neonatal nurse practitioner coverage.
The $2.5 million facility will reduce the need for patient transport and provide advanced neonatal care closer to home. The ceremony featured remarks from healthcare leaders and donors, highlighting the power of community support
The OnCue NICU, set to open in mid-March, features 10 nurseries, a C-section procedure room, a lactation room, family spaces and state-of-the-art technology. These patients, typically at or after 32 weeks gestation, will receive monitoring and treatment for conditions like jaundice, feeding issues or mild respiratory complications while being cared for by a team of neonatologists, specialized nurses and respiratory therapists.
“Having care closer to home means families can stay in their communities while their children receive treatment rather than traveling to Oklahoma City or Tulsa,” said Dr. Trent Tipple, chief of neonatology at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.
Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal death and disability. In Oklahoma, nearly 1 in 8 babies are born too early, with 11.9% of births being preterm in 2021, compared to the national average of 10.5%. The new neonatal ICU in north-central Oklahoma will address this critical need.
OnCue provided the lead gift to name the facility “OnCue NICU”. President of OnCue, Laura Aufleger, shared her moving story about the challenges her family faced when receiving neonatal care while previously living in Dallas.