Seth Beaver, Chief Financial Officer | Harris Regional Hospital
Seth Beaver, Chief Financial Officer | Harris Regional Hospital
Harris Regional Hospital has announced that Harris EMS has achieved certification to transport neonatal patients, including premature and medically fragile newborns. This development aims to make critical care more accessible within western North Carolina.
The neonatal transport service extends the hospital's New Generations Family Birthing Center, which is a leader in labor and delivery care west of Asheville. The center features a level II special care nursery for infants born at 32 weeks or later and those transitioning from neonatal intensive care elsewhere. With this new capability, families can access specialized newborn care closer to home, reducing the need for long-distance travel.
"By achieving certification for neonatal transport, Harris EMS can now safely transfer babies who require higher level nursery care," said Dr. Bernd Holler, board-certified neonatologist at Harris Regional Hospital. “This service, which also allows for neonatal nurses to accompany patients when necessary, ensures that our smallest and most vulnerable patients receive uninterrupted, high-quality care right from the moment of transfer.”
Ashley Hindman, CEO of Harris Regional Hospital stated: “Harris Regional Hospital is committed to providing innovative, patient-centered care. Our new neonatal transport service is another step forward in ensuring that every baby, no matter where they are in our region, has immediate access to the specialized care they need.”
The New Generations Family Birthing Center remains a key provider of regional perinatal services by offering delivery care as well as family education and support. The birthing center’s equipment and team of medical professionals provide tailored life-saving care for newborns with respiratory or developmental issues or those needing stabilization before further treatment in a neonatal intensive unit.
"This enhanced service strengthens the level of care available to families throughout western North Carolina," said Chris Brown, RN, market president for Harris Regional Hospital, Haywood Regional Medical Center, and Swain Community Hospital. "By expanding neonatal transport capabilities we’re helping ensure that newborns across our region have access to the specialized medical attention they need while allowing parents to remain within their communities for care and support."
For more information about these services visit MyHarrisRegional.com.
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