University Hospital caring for some of the tiniest hurricane evacuees
(SAN ANTONIO – September 12, 2008) The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at University Hospital is
now the temporary home of nine premature babies evacuated last night from University of Texas Medical
Branch (UTMB) in Galveston. The tiny babies, all weighing between just two and three pounds, were flown
to University in groups of three beginning at about 5 o’clock Thursday evening.
As the babies were en-route, under the care of volunteer neonatal transport teams, the specialized nurses,
physicians and respiratory therapists in the University Hospital NICU quickly mobilized to ensure a smooth
transition for these very fragile patients.
As of this morning, all of the babies are as stable as can be expected and being cared for in a special
section of the NICU. At this point, most of the babies’ parents are not at University Hospital, as they are
making preparations for Ike back at home. “We have assured them that we will take excellent care of their
babies,” said NICU nursing director Irene Sandate. “I am so very proud of our nurses and other staff who
came in to help. It was a huge effort. Many of us worked all day and then stayed all night.”
In addition to the nine premature babies, University Hospital has also accepted about 25 other patients
evacuated from coastal area hospitals. It is impossible to predict how busy the Level I trauma center at
University Hospital may become Saturday and Sunday as the storm hits. The University Hospital trauma
team has already provided care for a handful of coastal area residents, as the result of automobile crashes
and other injuries.
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