New neonatal unit opens at Oconee hospital

A new neonatal intensive care unit was officially opened today at the Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital.  It’s a Level 2 unit and was celebrated by hospital workers, families, community members and donors who helped make the 4-bed unit possible.  It means that babies born prematurely or needing special care can get that attention without leaving Oconee County.  The new unit provides care for babies born as early as 32 weeks gestational age – or eight weeks before the due date – or under 3.3 pounds.  Prior to today, all of those babies would either have been born at Greenville Memorial or would have had to be quickly transferred to the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in Greenville.  Oconee Memorial delivers about 550 babies a year.  The Oconee community rallied to support the unit, proving more than $200 thousand in specialized equipment.