TRAVERSE CITY — Construction on a new neonatal intensive care unit is a long time coming, but no less important to regional families with babies experiencing difficulties in their first days.
Munson Healthcare officials hosted a groundbreaking event and turned shovels Thursday afternoon on a project that will replace Munson’s current NICU, which will operate until construction is complete.
The neonatal intensive care unit, known as an NICU, is the only one north of US 10, and is part of Munson Healthcare’s $40 million investment in “women's and children's services that will benefit all of northern Michigan,” Munson Healthcare President Ed Ness said during his speech at the ceremony.
One of the most important improvements the new facility offers is additional privacy and space, said Chief Development Officer Debra Henderson.
Currently, when the NICU gets overfilled, they put up curtains to separate the families, according to Allred. Now the babies and their families will be able to get a room, a bathroom, a shower, windows and a place for visitors to sit.
“That's what we're going to create for these babies,” she said. “Not necessarily that the babies need it, but the families certainly do.”
The NICU, according to Lisa Allred, who specializes in neonatology at Munson Medical Center, supports babies with a range of physical and mental difficulties. The new NICU will now also have natural sunlight entering the building, which Allred said helps families with their “mental coping” and helps babies get used to light.
Allred started at the Munson Medical Center eight years ago and said the plan was to build the NICU shortly after her hiring.
“It's been delayed, but it's never lost momentum,” Allred said. “It's never stopped being a priority for our community, and that's why we're here now.”
However, the project, which has been delayed since before the COVID-19 pandemic, may face further delays. After reports last October said the NICU would be operational in late 2027, Henderson said it could be pushed a few months into early 2028.
“As we all know here in northern Michigan, we are dependent upon weather and a few other things that can really delay construction,” she said. “But we do expect a relatively quick turnaround on construction for this facility.”
The goal after construction is “to provide exceptional care” and bring in subspecialists and pediatrics to help with minor procedures, according to Allred.
“We've had so many people that have invested time, resources, energy, hope into this project, and we are so excited to see this first phase of bringing this to fruition here in northern Michigan,” Henderson said.
