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USAF Hospital Langley opens Level II NICU

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Kenneth Iverson, commander of Navy Medicine East and the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-service Market, and U.S. Air Force Col. Susan Pietrykowski, 633rd Medical Group commander, greet hospital staff at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Feb. 12, 2016. The USAF Hospital Langley is now the only level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in an Air Force hospital. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Newman)

USAF Hospital Langley opens Level II NICU

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Kenneth Iverson, commander of Navy Medicine East and the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-service Market, speaks during a ribbon cutting for the opening of the level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Feb. 12, 2016. The level II NICU, which is the only one in an Air Force hospital, will provide care of babies as young as 32-weeks or babies with unexpected medical complications. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Newman)

USAF Hospital Langley opens Level II NICU

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Kenneth Iverson, commander of Navy Medicine East and the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-service Market, center, U.S. Air Force Col. Susan Pietrykowski, 633rd Medical Group commander, left, and Col. Caroline M. Miller, 633rd Air Base Wing commander, cut the ribbon of the new level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Feb. 12, 2016. Approximately 40 members of the NICU staff will use state-of-the-art equipment and evidence-based medicine to provide exceptional care to about a hundred delicate newborns and premature babies each year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Newman)

USAF Hospital Langley opens Level II NICU

Published Feb. 17, 2016
By Senior Airman Kayla Newman
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- U.S. Service members gathered at the U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley for the opening of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Feb. 12, 2016.

The ribbon cutting ceremony recognized Langley as a level II NICU, which is the only one in an Air Force hospital.

"As a level II NICU, Langley is now able to provide care for our Nation's heroes as young as 32-weeks' gestation or babies with unexpected medical complications," said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Kenneth Iverson, commander of Navy Medicine East and the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-service Market. "Using state-of-the-art equipment and evidence-based medicine, Langley's NICU caregivers are expected to provide exceptional care to about a hundred delicate newborns and premature babies each year."

The NICU team is comprised of approximately 40 Service members, civilians and contractors and is led by Cmdr. Cynthia Shultz, NICU medical director and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Thombley, 633rd Medical Group maternal child flight commander.

According to Iverson, Shultz with help ensure staff training on post-resuscitation and pre-transport stabilization care of sick patients and Thombley, who has 23 years of NICU experience, will be critical in the instructions, equipment, supplies and training needed to take the level I unit to level II status.

"Cmdr. Shultz and Lt. Col. Thombley make the perfect pair to ensure the best possible outcomes for our tiniest patients at Langley's Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit," said Iverson. "To the entire Langley team, thank you for all that you do to ensure we remain the choice health care provider for our patients."