LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The 1st Fighter Wing Hospital and Portsmouth Naval Medical Center celebrated the opening of a joint project, a $2.2 million special care nursery here March 20.
Before the addition, premature and special needs babies were transferred to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth or area medical centers. Now, most 34-week-old babies and those that are mildly ill can be cared for at Langley.
"The convenience of a special care nursery is apparent," said Lt. Col. Robert Fischer, 1st Medical Group chief of the medical staff. "Instead of driving an hour to see your baby, he or she can be cared for right here, minutes from home, with a staff you're already familiar with."
Although convenience is one of the benefits for Langley and all the families on the peninsula, more importantly, the new nursery provides an opportunity for more babies to receive great care locally at the 1st FW Hospital.
Hospitals in the Hampton Roads area already have a limited number of beds for babies," said Col. Kory Cornum, 1st Fighter Wing Hospital commander "Here, we can care for babies who need our help and spare the room for other babies who need more specialized care elsewhere."
Statistically, the hospital cares for one-third Air Force, one third Army and one third Navy. The nursery will affect not only Airmen, but also families in all services.
"This will enhance the regional care for newborns and the capability to provide special care for babies from civilian and military hospitals," said Maj. Patricia John, 1st Medical Operations Squadron flight commander of maternal child services. "Our capabilities just grew enormously in the hospital."
The four new incubators, one mobile incubator, equipment remodeling and baby décor to top it all off, are just a few of the ways the hospital has spent its money. The special care nursery facility also underwent several upgrades and remodeling.
Nurses and technicians in the birthing center received additional training by the Portsmouth staff in a 10-week course along side Naval and Air Force neonatologists, doctors who specialize in the care of premature and sick babies.
"The staff blew us out of the water," said Lauren Smith, mother of the first baby to receive special care at the new nursery.
Kaydin Smith, 4 pounds, 8 ounces was born March 7 at 7:09 p.m. -- two weeks earlier than expected. With the help of Langley and Portsmouth staff, baby Kaydin and parents stayed closer to home and received the same treatment they'd have received from the Navy's well-established neonatal intensive care unit.
"I've been at a loss for words during this whole experience thanks to these guys," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Smith, Kaydin's father.
This cooperative mission is not the first time the Air Force and Navy have teamed up to accomplish a medical mission.
Whether on the battlefield or at home, servicemembers and their families receive quality medical care regardless of their military affiliation, or which branch owns the facility. The opening of the new Langley nursery reflects that spirit of camaraderie and sense of family, according to Rear Admiral Thomas Cullison, commander of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.