Valley Presbyterian Hospital Awarded $50,000 Grant from Hearst Foundation

Grant applied toward purchase of four Giraffe OmniBeds for neonatal intensive care unit

VAN NUYS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Valley Presbyterian Hospital (VPH) today announced it received a $50,000 grant from The Hearst Foundation to help purchase four state-of-the-art beds for its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

“The new Giraffe OmniBeds will help Valley Presbyterian Hospital clinicians and care givers to provide the best possible care for our smallest and most frail patients.”

VPH has the largest and busiest NICU facility in the San Fernando Valley region. The 32-bed unit treats more than 400 premature and critically ill infants each year, offering a full range of medical services.

“Babies born prematurely often suffer multiple impairments, which threaten their survival and require a tremendous range of life-supporting medical interventions and equipment,” said Michelle Quigley, vice president and chief nursing officer at VPH. “The new Giraffe OmniBeds will help Valley Presbyterian Hospital clinicians and care givers to provide the best possible care for our smallest and most frail patients.”

The Giraffe OmniBed is an infant radiant warmer and incubator. As a radiant warmer, the OmniBed allows the baby to receive heat uniformly for all procedural interventions including X-ray. A rotating, 19-inch mattress allows clinicians and care givers to adjust the bed 360 degrees for optimal patient access, and dual-access doors and gumdrop-shaped portholes provide space to care for larger babies or to accommodate several babies in one OmniBed system.

The OmniBed offers several features, such as:

• An X-ray cassette tray integrated into the system to minimize patient disturbances;
• An elevating hood that provides access to perform procedures and eliminates the need to move critically ill infants from bed to bed;
• A controlled humidifier;
• An in-bed scale that allows for weights to be taken and trended without removing the baby;
• Simple conversion from a radiant warmer into a bassinette.

“Giraffe OmniBeds offer a nurturing, life-sustaining environment that fosters growth and encourages healthy development for extremely premature infants,” said Brenda James, director of children’s services at VPH. “While promoting positive outcomes, the beds address the needs of clinicians and care givers.”

About Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Founded in 1958, Valley Presbyterian Hospital is a non-profit and nonsectarian hospital serving the medical needs of the San Fernando Valley community for more than 50 years. VPH has grown to become one of the largest acute care hospitals in the San Fernando Valley and continues to provide patient-centered care for a healthier community. The 350-bed facility offers leading-edge technology and a full range of medical services. With 500 physicians representing virtually every specialty and most sub-specialties, VPH provides state-of-the-art treatments to improve and save lives. For more information, visit www.valleypres.org