Newborn Intensive Care Unit

In November 2006, St. Edward Mercy Medical Center welcomed Neonatologist, Dr. Victor Coloso and launched a Level 3 Newborn Intensive Care Unit.  This unit provides the region a new level of care for at-risk newborns.  Historically many of these infants have required transport to distant facilities.  With the arrival of Doctor Coloso, only babies with severe respiratory distress or heart problems or those requiring surgical intervention require transfer to another institution.  Now, the majority of mothers and babies can stay together, right here at home, for the care they need. 

Dr. Victor Coloso, MD, FAAP

Dr. Victor Coloso, MD, FAAP*, and Board Certified Neonatologist by the American Board of Pediatrics, was recruited to St. Edward Mercy to provide neonatology services and to serve as the Medical Director for Neonatolgy.  Dr. Coloso has been in private practice in Martin County and Palm Beach, Florida.  He completed his pediatrics residency at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, New Jersey, and his neonatology fellowship at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital.

*The FAAP designation stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatricians who maintain their FAAP designation have obtained board certification in pediatrics and made an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and advocacy for children.

Pictures from NICU Reunion:

St. Edward Mercy Hosts Successful NICU Reunion

Fort Smith, Ark. – April 20, 2009 –St. Edward Mercy Medical Center hosted its first-ever Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Reunion from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at Creekmore Park Community Center.

Former NICU patients and their families, approximately 850 families, were invited to this first-ever event. Activities include face painting, “bounce arounds” donated by Kids Play Rental in Van Buren, a special appearance by Daphne the Clown, food donated by McDonald’s, and ice cream donated by Yarnell’s Premium Ice Cream. Each family will also receive a goodie bag for attending.

The St. Edward Mercy Medical Center launched the NICU in November 2006 when it hired Dr. Victor Coloso. Prior to arriving at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center, Dr. Coloso was in private practice in Martin County and Palm Beach, Florida. He completed his pediatrics residency at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey, and his neonatology fellowship at the University of Miami at Jackson Memorial Hospital. 

In September 2008, St. Edward Mercy added a NICU Transport in order to transfer infants requiring the services that only a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can provide, from other facilities to the St. Edward Mercy Medical Center NICU.

The St. Edward Mercy NICU serves infants born at 26 weeks of gestation and later. The NICU nursery has a 25-isolette capacity and has served over 850 infants and their families since the nursery opened. The St. Edward Mercy Medical Center offers the only Level III NICU in the region.