Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Virginia, US, has suspended admissions to its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) following the discovery of unexplained fractures in several infants.
The hospital has reported that three babies were found with such injuries in late November and December, reminiscent of a similar incident involving four infants in the summer of 2023.
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The hospital has launched an internal investigation, informed the affected families, the relevant authorities and regulatory agencies.
In a post on their website Henrico Doctors’ Hospital said: “Out of an abundance of caution, we are not admitting any additional babies into our NICU at this time.
“While fractures occasionally happen with pre-term babies since they lack full foetal bone development, we are actively working to determine how these fractures occurred.”
To improve safety in the NICU, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital has mandated additional in-person safety training for all NICU caregivers and introduced more thorough examinations of each infant by neonatologists.
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By GlobalDataIn response to the incidents, the hospital has also implemented mandatory training for all healthcare providers catering to minors, focusing on the identification and reporting of neglect or abuse.
To further ensure the safety and security of the infants, two new security systems have been installed: a camera system that monitors NICU rooms around the clock and live-streaming technology for parents to view their babies.
The hospital has provided video footage to the authorities, with healthcare professionals reviewing the recordings.
An observer system has also been put in place, requiring each provider in the NICU to be accompanied by another clinician to ensure adherence to protocols.
Henrico Doctors’ Hospital said: “The process is thorough and time-consuming, but they are making steady progress.
“So far during our review of the videos, no misconduct or accidental actions have been found.”
Fox 8 Cleveland WJW reports that Henrico County Police Division’s Special Victims Unit detectives are investigating the incidents to determine if any criminal violations have occurred.
As of 26 December, no charges have been filed.
