Piedmont Columbus Regional hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and name reveal for the newly renovated and expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on Thursday. The ceremony not only celebrated the completion of the 17,367 square foot unit but also to celebrate the donors who made this renovation and expansion possible.  
 
The new NICU was also formally named and announced as the Miracle NICU which was made possible by the generous donation of $2 million from Auburn University Dance Marathon students.
 
“Caring for our community’s families and children is a commitment Piedmont Columbus Regional has held for over 180 years,” said Scott Hill, Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO. “The new Miracle NICU is a testimony to that commitment and it is truly an honor to recognize the efforts and hard work of the Auburn University Dance Marathon students in such a meaningful way. Their generous gift will enable us to continue to serve our community and make difference in the lives of every family we touch for generations to come.”
 
The Miracle NICU is one of only six regional perinatal centers in Georgia and the NICU serves 21 counties in West Georgia and East Alabama. The NICU provides subspecialty care and comprehensive services for at-risk and medically fragile newborns in a comfortable, supportive environment.
 
The new unit includes 46 NICU beds and a layout that features open bays with three walls, which will allow improved privacy for family access and kangaroo care. This layout style will create pods of four rooms per caregiver.

The expansion of the NICU helps to continue the quality care given to all patients and their families, while focusing on patient comfort and safety. The goals of the renovation included giving patients access to more control over room lighting, sounds and temperature, as well as providing patients with the close proximity of caregivers, family and emergency response systems. Parents will have access to their child at any given point of the day.
 
The expansion will also help staff by increasing patient access, improving ergonomics, providing better visibility to the patient and increasing storage and workspace, which allows for better bedside care by staff and physicians.
 
Additionally, the Miracle NICU will offer a Ronald McDonald family room for families and visitors as well as dedicated meeting and education space for staff.
 
“The opening of the new Miracle NICU – named in honor of a $2 million gift from Auburn University Dance Marathon program, is the last phase in the transformation of care for women and children in the Chattahoochee Valley.  We are so excited to name the Miracle NICU in recognition of these students who are helping us make a positive difference at the Piedmont Columbus Regional Children’s Hospital – your Children’s Miracle Network hospital, “said Aline Lasseter, Piedmont Columbus Regional Foundation President.
 
Auburn University Dance Marathon is a student led Children’s Miracle Network program that has been supporting the Children’s Hospital at Piedmont Columbus Regional for eight years – raising more than $2.1 million since 2012. Nationally, more than 300 Dance Marathons are held at colleges and universities in support of their community’s children’s hospital. The Children’s Hospital at Piedmont Columbus Regional has been a member of CMN since 1993.