CHI Franciscan Health announced it launched a new neonatology program at Highline Medical Center in Burien. In collaboration with Seattle Children’s neonatologists, the program will care for higher-risk infants, such as those with breathing problems or born prematurely, in Highline Medical Center’s special care nursery, a Level II Special Care Nursery.

“Research shows that high-quality care delivered close to home produces the best immediate and lifelong outcomes,” said Kenneth Dong, MD, Chief of the Pediatrics Section at CHI Franciscan Highline Medical Center. “We strive to give babies the best care as close to home as possible and our new collaboration with Seattle Children’s means more care options here in Burien for the most fragile babies.”

“By joining Seattle Children’s neonatal expertise with the skilled team at Highline Medical Center, newborns identified as needing closer monitoring can receive this specialized care in their own community,” said Meenakshi Dutta, MD, Medical Director of the NICU at Highline Medical Center and a Seattle Children’s neonatologist. “We look forward to the potential our collaboration has to augment the level of neonatal care available to families in this area.”

Last year, nearly 1,000 babies were born at the Family Birth Center at Highline Medical Center and collectively over 9,000 babies were born in CHI Franciscan birth centers during this time.

There are many factors that go into safely delivering healthy babies. Highline Medical Center’s special care nursery cares for premature babies born at 34 weeks and weighing at least 4.5 to 5 pounds. For newborns requiring this level of specialized care, the collaboration between CHI Franciscan’s Highline Medical Center and Seattle Children’s expands access to 24/7, round-the-clock care from highly-trained, board-certified pediatricians and neonatologists.

The neonatology program began serving the Highline Medical Center community on Nov. 1, 2018.