Census/Bed space Guidelines

Vanderbilt Children's Hospital’s current NICU facility has an official bed capacity of 70.

Currently during times of high census, occupancy in the NICU may be cautiously expanded.  As overcrowding can predispose to outbreaks of nosocomial infection, the following bed space guidelines have been established in compliance with state regulations specifying that neonatal patients must be separated by at least 3 feet.

Room                                       Bed space capacity

Pod A (Stepdown)                                16

Pod C-I                                                 44

Stahlman Nursery                                   10

These guidelines allow for a maximum number of 70 bed spaces in which to optimally care for Vanderbilt’s neonatal patients.  Optimal care for patients may also depend on nurse staffing.

When demand for admission to the NICU exceeds available bed spaces, neonatology fellows and attending physicians must seek flexible alternatives in triaging patients to ensure that all newborn patients in the Middle Tennessee area receive the medical care they need.

Established at the Clinical Division Meeting 7/15/2002.