The MCG Children’s Medical Center is one of 28 Georgia hospitals to participate in the March of Dimes Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Bedside Reading Program by receiving a bedside book cart. 

“Too often, parents feel helpless when their infants are in the NICU because they can’t pick them up like they would healthy newborns.  Reading is a comfort to the babies as well as the parents,” said Marnita Wade, NICU Nurse Manager.  “The soothing sound of a parent’s voice is an important way of establishing a strong bond between the infant and his or her parents, and that strong bond often has a positive effect on the health outcome of the baby.

Approximately one in 10 newborns ends up in a NICU because they are born too soon, too small or with a birth defect.  Since the MCG Children’s Medical Center has the region’s only Level IIID (highest level) NICU, it treats the most critically ill newborns.  “It is our hope that the bedside book cart will make newborn intensive care a smoother and less traumatic experience for parents because of the opportunity to bond with their babies,” Wade said.

MCG Health System is composed of three organizations - MCG Health Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group.  MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services.  MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia, and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for delivering the highest level of primary and specialty health care.  For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.