KP Santa Rosa’s Level II Intermediate Care Nursery has a long history of providing exceptional care to newborns 34 weeks gestation and above. In January 2025, the team proudly expanded its capabilities to include infants born at 33 weeks gestation, allowing families to remain close to home rather than transferring to a higher-level facility.

For families, transfers to other hospitals, often more than an hour away, can be incredibly challenging. Premature newborns frequently require several weeks of hospitalization, creating emotional and logistical strain when that care occurs far from home. The decision to lower the gestational age requirement was driven by KP Santa Rosa’s deep commitment to keeping families together and close to their community.

This milestone was made possible through extensive multidisciplinary collaboration among nursing leadership, quality and risk teams, physicians, respiratory therapy, and many others. Nurses from the Unit Practice Council (UPC) played a pivotal role in staff education, supported by the maternal child health nursing professional development specialist. The team ensured every nurse had the necessary skills and confidence to care for these younger premature infants. During the annual Skills Day, the UPC developed specialized educational materials and posters focused on preterm care topics, including surfactant administration, management of TPN and lipids, and developmental positioning.

To further strengthen readiness, collaborative preemie drills were conducted with participation from a neonatologist from a partner facility, as well as mock codes involving labor and delivery, postpartum, and pediatrics.

Since expanding to care for 33-week newborns, several infants who would have been transferred were successfully cared for at KP Santa Rosa, a powerful testament to the organization’s patient- and family-centered care and the dedication of nurses and the multidisciplinary team who provide expert, compassionate care to our tiniest patients.