TERRE HAUTE —
Big plans have come full term for Union Hospital’s smallest patients.
Dozens of admirers filled the brightly lit halls of Union West, where the newly expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was opened for a preview Wednesday evening. Now more than 23,000 square feet, the area formerly housing surgery boasts eight birthing suites, nine triage rooms and more space for infants requiring intensive care.
Many retirees attended the evening’s event, lauding advancements in technology while pointing out the continued commitment to quality. Itself born in 1968, Union Hospital’s NICU is the oldest such in Indiana, founded through the collaborative efforts of doctors Thomas Conway and William Scully.
Dr. J. Lewis Stoelting said he well remembers those years — and a few decades earlier.
“It’s a lot different now,” he said near the unit’s entrance. Beginning his obstetrics practice at Union Hospital in 1947, Stoelting’s deliveries numbered into the thousands, and he recalled one night in particular where he and the team delivered 16 babies in one shift.
Union nurses then, like Union nurses now, demonstrated excellence, he recalled. And while that commitment hasn’t changed, little else in the unit has remained the same.
Hospital CEO Scott Teffeteller said the unit, which cost approximately $5 million to build, helps fulfill the organization’s mission.
“We exist to serve our patients with compassionate health care of the highest quality,” he said, adding that this investment brings world-class care to the Wabash Valley. “If this isn’t the highest of quality, I don’t know what is.”
Union Hospital delivered more than 16,000 babies last year, admitting 300 infants to the NICU, he said.
Among those infants was Anden Litz, who entered the world Nov. 18, 2011, about 12 weeks premature, weighing in at 2 pounds, 10 ounces.
Anden’s father, Shane, on Wednesday afternoon credited the unit’s staff, pointing out the number of nurses there with more than 20 years experience.
“There’s so many years experience all together there in that NICU,” he said.
The need for more space in that unit was telling, though, he recalled, adding he’s certain the group’s commitment to care won’t lessen as the space increases. Crediting his son’s physician and director of the pediatrics department, Dr. Russel Coutinho, Litz said staff there genuinely care for the children involved.
“He was able to express those feelings to the parent in a way that was very calming,” Litz said, adding his son now weighs more than 15 pounds. “That’s an important thing in that situation, having a doctor that genuinely cares.”
During the open house, Coutinho said the new facility will help its staff make sick babies well and send them home to their parents, just as they’ve been doing since the early days.
“This will provide us a better environment to help our families,” he said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Been around: J.Lewis Stoelting, 95, listens to speakers at the open house for Union Hospital's new NICU. Stoelting practiced medicine in their maternity ward for 40 years, delivering 16 babies in a day on one occasion.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis New space: Union Hospital's Chief of Pediatrics Russel Couthino talks with Jaimee Goodman, assistant nursing care manager, Fatima Hina, OBGYN, and Dena Cochran, manager of labor, delivery and postpartum. They were at the open house for the hospital's new NICU, due to open in a couple of weeks.
-
Scott Teefeteller
Discussion
Union Hospital unveils expansive new neonatal intensive care unit
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Lane restrictions next week on U.S. 41 at Shelburn
SHELBURN, Ind. – Motorists should expect minimal delays because of lane restrictions for U.S. 41 in Sullivan County next week as the railroad company makes repairs to the rail crossing 1.2 miles north of Shelburn.
-
Reputed Mafioso tip triggers new Hoffa body search
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The FBI saw enough merit in a reputed Mafia captain’s tip to once again break out the digging equipment to search for the remains of former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa, last seen alive before a lunch meeting with two mobsters nearly 40 years ago.
-
UPDATE: Parke County homicide victim identified
ROSEDALE — The victim in a Parke County homicide that occurred last week has been identified as Kathryn A. Bays, 55, of Rosedale.
-
Court lets walk-out fines against House Democrats stand
INDIANAPOLIS — House Democrats who had to pay more than $100,000 in fines after they walked out of the Indiana Statehouse won’t get the help they sought from the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 18, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
Back home again: Items from vaudeville stage and Terre Haute native sent to Historical Society
The staff at the Vigo County Historical Museum are excited about the arrival of priceless items used by Terre Haute-native Rose Fehrenbach and her husband, Edward Pierce, to promote their Vaudeville acts in the early 20th century.
-
Husband charged in Archer homicide
Terre Haute Police have found local reports of domestic violence between a Terre Haute man and his wife, whose body was discovered wrapped in a tarp and dumped in an Ohio ditch.
-
National Road panels dedicated
Rewind to the mid-1800s, when the trotting of a horse and buggy on National Road could be heard alongside the voices of people heading west, searching for opportunities.
-
Pence sets agency priorities
Following a directive from Gov. Mike Pence, state agency heads are reorganizing some of their top priorities to better reflect the first-year governor’s “roadmap for Indiana” plan for improving the state’s economy, infrastructure and health.
-
Another I-70 traffic snarl: Three injured in two related crashes
Three people were injured Monday afternoon from a pair of crashes on Interstate 70 that temporarily closed the highway and diverted traffic into Terre Haute.
-
Terre Haute man still hospitalized after scooter/car crash
A Terre Haute man remained hospitalized Monday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after his scooter struck a car early Saturday on Wabash Avenue at 25th Street.
-
Overpass repairs causing Interstate 70 lane restrictions
Repairs to the Frye Road overpass in southeastern Vigo County has caused a restriction to the left lane of Interstate 70 between the 13- and 14-mile markers, about two miles east of the Indiana 46 exit.
-
Indiana woman condemned for killing at 15 is freed
A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old Bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison Monday after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
Grant will let Vigo Library evaluate map collection
The Vigo County Public Library has received a $2,000 grant to evaluate its historic map collection, a library official announced Monday.
-
Four juveniles caught on elementary school roof; one injured jumping off
Police say a juvenile was lucky to have suffered only a broken leg after jumping from the roof of a Vigo County elementary school – dropping about 30 feet to the ground.
-
Farmersburg man sentenced after guilty plea in rape case
A Farmersburg man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to a rape that occurred at his parents’ residence in May 2012.
-
Still no information being released on Rosedale homicide
No new information was being released Monday afternoon concerning a Rosedale homicide.
-
Woman condemned for killing at age 15 freed from Rockville prison
INDIANAPOLIS — A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison today after growing to middle age behind bars.
-
UPDATE: All lanes of I-70 now open
All lanes of Interstate 70 in Vigo County are now open — as of 4:15 p.m. — after multiple crashes shut down the eastbound lanes temporarily this afternoon.
-
Quinn signs into law tough fracking regulations
CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation giving the state the nation’s strictest regulations for high-volume oil and gas drilling.
-
BREAKING: Arrest made in Archer homicide
A Terre Haute man has been arrested and charged with felony murder and altering the scene of a death in the homicide of his wife, Kayla Herchelroath Archer.
-
Frye Road Overpass work to restrict lanes on I-70
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces the Frye Road Overpass construction will restrict the left lane on Interstate 70 between the 13- and 14-mile marker, beginning June 17. This lane restriction will be in effect for 24 hours a day for about two weeks.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: June 17, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, based on jail records.
-
Fathers take time out to spend quality time with children, grandchildren
A big, circular white cloud rose up through the tall atrium as Mike Woods held his 4-year son, Nathan, Sunday at the Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
-
On Friday, hit the park and raise funds for skateboarders
The On-board United Initiative — O.U.I. for short — has scheduled an all-ages fundraising event Friday in honor of national Go Skateboarding Day.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Sentencing law could benefit juveniles
Monica Foster is a longtime public defender who’s been pushing uphill in the legal system for a long time. So, when she says the General Assembly is making progress protecting the rights of the disenfranchised, it’s worth stopping to listen to her.
-
Mastering the art of Gardening
The Wabash Valley Master Gardeners group gathered over the weekend to marvel at each other’s gardens on its annual garden tour. The event was a chance for master gardeners to showcase their labor of love, meanwhile sharing stories about their plants.
-
RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: June 17, 2013
The Vigo County Health Department inspected the following food establishments May 28-31:
-
Lawn mower fire destroys barn
A lawn mower that caught fire was cited as the cause of a fire that destroyed a single story barn Sunday in the 2000 block of North Chamberlain Street, said Harold Osborn, assistant fire chief of the Lost Creek Township Fire Department.
-
Wabash Valley residents vie for spot on Wheel of Fortune
Ellen Fujawa of Zionsville wants to be on the popular syndicated Wheel of Fortune game show.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Lane restrictions next week on U.S. 41 at Shelburn
Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
Robot Action Connected to Human Thought
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Transgender Candidate Running in NYC
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
Raw: 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets
Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead
Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans
Today in History June 18
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton Show Off Their Amazing Bikini Bodies
NBA FINALS: Spurs Win Game 5, Lead Series
Exclusive Clip: Jodi Arias: 'Dirty Little Secret'
Amphibious bus filled with tourists sinks
Best Bikini Abs
