UPMC Hosts Reunion for NICU Babies and their Families

August 23, 2024

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Former Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients reunited with the UPMC nurses and staff at the NICU Reunion Pajama Party on Thursday night. The event was organized by UPMC Magee-Womens and UPMC Children’s in Central Pa. with support from the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation. This is the first UPMC in Central Pa. NICU reunion since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It's truly heartwarming to see these children thriving,” said Abby Flanders, executive administrator, Pediatric and Neonatology Services, UPMC in Central Pa. “This is our mission at UPMC - to provide superior health care to families in the communities we serve. It wouldn't be possible without our compassionate and highly skilled NICU staff who are always putting their best foot forward to serve our littlest patients and their families."

Held at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg, the NICU reunion gave former patients of the neonatal intensive care units at UPMC Harrisburg, UPMC Lititz and UPMC Memorial, the chance to visit with providers and nurses. Kids were happy to explore exhibits, including KidsPlace, Carnival of Health, and the Science Center Exhibit. There were art and craft projects, story time, and videos for the little ones on the giant screen in the Select Medical Digital Cinema.

UPMC Magee-Womens understands that having a baby in the NICU can be stressful for families. To help reduce the stressors surrounding an admission into the NICU, the team has established various resources to encourage a family-centered care. Thanks to advances in medical care, even babies born very preterm are more likely to survive today than ever before. The NICU has advanced technology and trained health care professionals to give special care for the tiniest patients.

The NICU team is composed of neonatologists, neonatal advanced practice providers, and specialized nurses and respiratory therapists. The team works in collaboration with UPMC Children’s in Central Pa. and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to ensure that each baby receives the best possible care and has access to pediatric subspecialists when needed.

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country and is ranked sixth on U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Children’s Hospitals’ Honor Roll 2023-24. In addition to being named in the honor roll, UPMC Children’s Hospital is ranked for excellence in all pediatric specialty areas and is among the top 10 in six specialties including (No.4) in Neonatology.

In 2023, more than 6,000 babies were delivered at UPMC Magee-Womens in Central PA while the NICU units treated close to 600 severely or critically ill babies.

For more information about UPMC services in central Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/CentralPa.