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Show I Newborn intensive care unit planned at center d A newborn intensive care unit, planned as an extension of the center at the University of Utah Medical Center, will be constructed this year at Primary Childrens Medical Center. The new unit will use space already occupied by 20 un 26-b- derutilized pediatric beds, according to Donald R. Poulter, Administrator, Primary Childrens Medical Center. Both the Primary Childrens unit and the Intermountain Newborn Intensive Care Center, (INICC) at the University will use the same transport service, educational programs, medical services and outreach continuing education programs. Dr. August L. Jung, Director of INICC will be the Medical Director of both units. The unit at Primary Childrens Medical Center will be manned three by neonatologists. Dr. Jung said the need for services at expanded Primary Childrens is shown by the fact that of the 50,000 annual births in the Intermountain Region two to four percent require intensive care. This translates into 1,000 to 2,000 babies, he said. Currently, 700 annually come to the University of Utah Medical Center. This results in a 90 to 100 percent occupancy rate for our unit, and newborns are often referred out of the area to Las d Vegas, Sacramento, San Francisco, Denver or Portland. Those units are often full as well, Dr. Jung continued, and an Intermountain Region baby must sometimes wait for admission. This is not a good health care delivery system. on Based population projections, birth rates and immigration figures, Dr. Jung and Primary Childrens Medical Center officials feel the area will need 96 newborn intensive care beds by 1990. He expects only four more beds will be added to the Universitys center by 1981. It is therefore essential that we assist in the development of additional beds in the Intermountain area to meet the projected needs, he said. The referral area for the iwo units win continue to De all of Utah, southern Idaho, southwestern Wyoming and northeastern Nevada. In Center has take babies from Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and even states farther east. addition, the U of U Remolding of facilities at Primary Childrens Medical Center began January 1 1977. |