Portneuf Medical Center in Idaho Expands Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Launches Regional Tele-NICU Program
POCATELLO, Idaho — Portneuf Medical Center has expanded its neonatal intensive care capacity with a new dedicated unit for the most fragile premature infants, while also launching a pilot tele-NICU program aimed at extending expert newborn care across the broader region.
The regional hospital in Pocatello announced the changes this week, citing two separate hospital initiatives designed to improve outcomes for premature and critically ill newborns in Idaho and surrounding areas.
New Small Baby Unit Targets Micropreemies
The first initiative involves a physical renovation of PMC’s existing NICU to create what the hospital is calling the Small Baby Unit — a dedicated space for “micropreemies,” defined as infants born at or before 26 weeks of gestation. The new unit features four beds and was specifically engineered with soundboards and rubberized flooring to support neurological development by dampening noise and dimming light, creating an environment that mimics the womb as closely as possible.
“The first few weeks of life are a critical window for a micropreemie’s brain development,” said Dr. Elizabeth O’Donnell, a neonatologist at Portneuf Medical Center. “By creating the Small Baby Unit, we can control the environment through minimizing light and sound to mimic the womb as closely as possible. This specialized care is essential for protecting their fragile nervous systems and ensuring the best long-term developmental outcomes.”
The addition of four beds brings PMC’s total NICU bed count to 20, which the hospital describes as making it “one of the largest in the state” of Idaho.
To put the need in perspective, a March of Dimes report indicates that approximately 447 babies are born in Idaho every week. Of those, roughly 40 are born preterm — before 37 weeks of gestation. Five of those 40 are considered very preterm, born before 32 weeks of gestation. Micropreemies, born at or before 26 weeks, represent the most vulnerable subset of that population and require the highest level of specialized care.
The Small Baby Unit is staffed by what PMC describes as a comprehensive interdisciplinary team, including neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, and specialists in speech and feeding therapy, as well as occupational and physical therapy.
Tele-NICU Pilot Program Extends Care Beyond Pocatello
The second initiative behind PMC’s expansion is the launch of a pilot tele-NICU program designed to extend neonatal expertise to hospitals throughout the region that may not have access to specialized neonatologists on site. The program uses virtual consultations that allow PMC neonatologists to collaborate in real time with physicians at smaller facilities caring for critically ill newborns.
“Tele-NICU allows us to support our colleagues at smaller facilities, providing peace of mind to families and ensuring that if a baby needs to be transferred, they are stabilized and ready for transport under the guidance of our specialists,” Dr. O’Donnell said.
The hospital says the program ensures that infants receive expert-level oversight immediately, regardless of geographic location, while also facilitating a seamless transfer to PMC when a higher level of care is required. The approach reflects a growing trend in healthcare delivery in rural and semi-rural states like Idaho, where access to pediatric subspecialists can be limited by distance.
“Our goal is to ensure that every baby in our region has access to high-level neonatal expertise, regardless of where their journey begins,” O’Donnell added.
PMC said its NICU program develops individualized care plans for each baby in close collaboration with obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists, and the infant’s family. The hospital emphasized its commitment to the region’s youngest and most vulnerable patients, stating, “PMC is deeply committed to our smallest patients.”
The expansion reflects continued investment in healthcare infrastructure across East Idaho and southeastern Idaho, a region that has seen steady population growth in recent years. Community health investments of this kind align with broader efforts to keep critical medical services within the state rather than requiring families to travel to larger metropolitan areas for specialized care. For more community and infrastructure news from across the region, visit our coverage of the Idaho Falls Frontier Center renovation, another example of local investment in community resources.
What Comes Next
Portneuf Medical Center has not announced a formal timeline for expanding the tele-NICU pilot program beyond its current scope, but hospital officials indicate the goal is to broaden regional access over time. Families seeking more information about PMC’s NICU services can visit portneuf.org/services/nicu. As healthcare demands grow across Bonneville County and the wider East Idaho region, expansions like this at regional medical centers will likely remain a key part of Idaho’s strategy for delivering specialized care closer to home. For statewide health and infrastructure developments, readers can follow ongoing coverage at Idaho News.