New Vision for NICU Begins with Attracting New Neonatologists
23-8-2021
There are some new faces in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Windsor Regional Hospital and not just the newborn variety.
Since assuming the role of medical director in 2020, Dr. Sajit Augustine has been busy attracting three new out-of-town neonatologists which he hopes will become part of the foundation to expand the unit from the current ‘modified level 3’ status to a ‘full level 3’ unit.
The difference in the designation is immense for families with newborns under 26 weeks gestation.
With the current modified level 3 status, the unit is limited to treating and caring for babies who are older than 26 weeks gestation. Newborns younger than 26 weeks are typically transferred to hospitals outside Windsor, such as London or Detroit, which creates hardships for families - both emotionally and financially.
It is part of Dr. Augustine’s long-term vision for the unit for the next five to ten years to develop a high-quality and high functioning NICU and it starts with attracting the right people.
“My vision to develop a NICU that not only ensures that the neonatal care we provide is family-centred, but also safe, efficient, and high reliability while also fostering an environment that supports training future nurses, RTs, clinicians, medical students or residents who would like to come to our NICU,” he says. “It should also supports neonatal research and innovation.”
Between 2018 and 2020, there were 53 regional transfers including ten of them to Detroit.
- 2018: 18 out of region transfers (4 to Detroit)
- 2019: 22 out of region transfers (5 to Detroit)
- 2020: 13 out of region transfers (1 to Detroit)
“We need to have the necessary expertise and skillset to take care of these small and tiny babies; doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, the funding and special equipment,” he adds pointing out the care is not limited to premature babies as babies born to term, can sometimes run into health complications as well.
Two new full-time neonatologists, Dr. Telford Yeung and Dr. Judy Seesahai, were trained in Toronto at Sick Kids Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, both are top-notch institutions in the country. In addition, neonatologist Dr. Eric Keil joined the Windsor Regional Hospital team in October 2020. Following 12 years as a Respiratory Therapist in Saskatchewan, he decided to go to medical school and accepted a position in the NICU in Windsor.
Although historically it may have been challenging to attract physicians to the region, the future new acute care hospital helps.
“I had several options but the size of the NICU, the amount of support I received from staff, the chance to be involved in creating a new NICU along with the goal of becoming a full level 3 unit, all made it extremely attractive to move myself, my wife and four children here,” says Dr. Keil, a native of Cranbrook British Columbia.
Despite the age of the Met Campus, Dr. Keil says there is a family-centred setup in the NICU and the easy access to the Ronald McDonald House, located one floor above, is a real plus to the unit and parents of babies in the NICU. Ideally, he would love the local NICU designated a full level 3, before the opening of the new acute care hospital, so he emphasizes the groundwork needs to take place now.
For Dr. Yeung, the NICU at Windsor Regional Hospital had a lot to offer.
“I completed my paediatrics training in Edmonton and then moved to Toronto for my neonatal perinatal medicine fellowship,” says Dr. Yeung. “I chose to join Windsor due to the clinical and teaching opportunities at the hospital as well as to be part of shaping and implementing the new vision for the NICU.”
Dr. Augustine is pleased with the caliber of the new additions to the team.
“They share the vision that I have for our Windsor NICU and what we offer to our community,” adds Dr. Augustine. “They are excited about being part of that vision and part of the new modern acute care hospital that we are looking to build. If you have a modern hospital, then you get to design a modern NICU. Not many neonatologists can boast to being part of such a roadmap to the future.”
Dr. Yeung started June 1st while Dr. Seesahai begins this fall.