Marshfield Children's Hospital says donors across the region have given more than $12.5 million toward a new neonatal intensive care unit.
The new NICU is planned as a family-centered unit for premature and critically ill infants, with more room for parents and loved ones to stay close during care. It is part of a multi-phase effort to rework intensive care spaces on the Marshfield Medical Center campus.
Plans call for 26 private rooms in a space more than twice the size of the current NICU, so parents and guardians can stay overnight with their infants. The unit is also planned with dedicated family gathering spaces, staff collaboration areas, and services such as child life and music therapy.
The fundraising campaign was led by the Sanford Health Foundation. Emeritus physicians and leaders committed more than $1.6 million, and the campaign was co-chaired by Dr. Edna DeVries and Dr. Bill Hocking.
Hospital leaders note the NICU has cared for high-risk infants for more than 50 years, while the needs of families have grown more complex. With the fundraising milestone reached, planning continues and construction is expected to begin in late 2027.
