Piedmont Rockdale Hospital has received a $36,390 grant from the Dart Foundation to purchase two Panda Warmers, medical devices used during labor and delivery to keep newborn babies warm and healthy in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

“We appreciate the support of the Dart Foundation,” said Marty Wynn, chief financial officer, Piedmont Rockdale. “The grant enables us to purchase equipment that allows us to provide the highest quality of care to our smallest, most fragile patients.”

Piedmont Rockdale’s women’s services department performs more than 1,700 deliveries each year. Between 10 and 15 percent of the babies born at Piedmont Rockdale require NICU care.

Recognizing a need to provide a higher level of infant care in the local community, Piedmont Rockdale in 2013 renovated its existing six-bed NICU to a 20-bed unit. The hospital also increased the complexity of care provided in the NICU earning a Level III designation. Since completing the renovation, Piedmont Rockdale has provided care for more than 1,300 babies in the NICU.

“There is a high level of need for our NICU services in Conyers and surrounding communities,” said Wynn. “Having organizations such as the Dart Foundation support the hospital’s efforts demonstrates that the community recognizes the need, as well.”

The Dart Foundation is a private family foundation established by Dart Container Corporation founder William A. Dart and his wife Claire T. Dart. The foundation supports projects that enhance education, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, and those that improve the quality of life in specific communities.

Piedmont Rockdale Hospital’s NICU provides 24-hour care for premature and sick babies. The babies in the NICU are cared for by a highly trained team of neonatologists and neonatal intensive care nurses. Babies are admitted to the NICU for a number of reasons, which include prematurity, breathing problems, low blood sugar, jaundice and infection.