Harry Weis, CEO of Natividad Medical Center, announced today that its Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will celebrate its 5 Year Anniversary on Saturday, July 10th. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, NMC’s California Children’s Services-Certified Level III NICU has two full time University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Neonatologists and five Neonatal Nurse Practitioners. The NICU unit treats a range of infants with serious health issues — from premature newborns which require help to breathe, to those with serious illnesses. The Natividad Medical Center NICU keeps parents and their children united throughout the treatment and recovery process. Natividad Medical Center also offers a neonatal transport service that has picked up sick infants from hospitals as far away as San Luis Obispo and Hollister and delivered them for treatment in Salinas.

NMC’s Level III NICU offers:

• Certification by the California Children’s Services
• Devotion to newborn infants requiring specialized care
• Intermediate and intensive care for growing newborns
• The highest level of community level III intensive newborn care

NMC’s initial upgrade from a Level II to a Level III NICU in 2005 was supported by significant philanthropic support through the Natividad Medical Foundation for the purchase of specialized medical equipment. Major donors to the Level III advancement included the Barnet J. Segal Charitable Trust, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Harden Foundation, and the Community Foundation for Monterey County. In 2010, generous philanthropic contributions from Andrew and Phyllis D’Arrigo and the 22 members of The Agricultural Leadership Council supported the purchase of the latest medical equipment – ranging from baby scales and heart monitors to isolettes – to care for NMC’s tiniest patients.

Date: July 10th, 2010

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Place: Natividad Medical Center located at 1441 Constitution Blvd in Salinas, California

Photo Opportunities:

EVENT NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. MEDIA PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ONLY

• Meet the first children who were treated in the NICU unit 5 years ago and their families.
• NICU children and their families will be making a quilt.
• View NICU equipment
• See the Wheelie Mobilee

About Natividad Medical Center

Natividad Medical Center is a 172-bed acute care medical center owned and operated by Monterey County , and has been providing healthcare for more than 124 years. A public safety net hospital, Natividad Medical Center emphasizes the care of women, children and families and offers comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic and specialty care. Through its affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco, Natividad is the only teaching hospital on the Central Coast With a medical staff of more than 235 physicians, Natividad’s mission is to continually improve the health status of the people of Monterey County through access to affordable, high-quality healthcare services. Natividad is based in Salinas, California. For more information, please call 831-755-4111 or visit www.natividad.com.