Renown Children’s Hospital is celebrating three years of expanded services and capabilities in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). This milestone reflects Renown’s ongoing investment in providing specialized care for our region’s youngest patients.
“When newborns and children need the most specialized care, the Renown Children’s Hospital team is here to provide comprehensive care and keep them close to the people who love them most,” said Paige McCall, Vice President of Women and Children’s at Renown Health. “Celebrating three years of expanded NICU and PICU capacity is a testament to our commitment to keeping families in town for the most complex care.”
Three Years of Growth: Milestones at a Glance
- Summer 2023: Renown Children’s Hospital opened expanded NICU and PICU spaces on the fifth floor of the Tahoe Tower at Renown Regional Medical Center, increasing capacity for critically ill newborns and children.
- November 2023: The Bridge Clinic launched to support NICU graduates as they transition from inpatient care to outpatient specialty services.
- Within the first year of the PICU expansion: Renown Children’s Hospital earned independent verification from the American College of Surgeons as northern Nevada’s only Level II Pediatric Trauma Center.
- October 2024: The Small Baby Committee was established to improve care and outcomes for the most premature and medically vulnerable infants.
- April 2026: The NICU added a 24/7 advanced practice provider program to complement existing neonatologist coverage.
Renown Children’s Hospital is proud to be northern Nevada's only dedicated pediatric hospital and offers the area's only 24/7 ER specializing in emergency medical services for children. Additionally, it is the area's first Level II Pediatric Trauma Center and maintains a Level III NICU. As the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in northern Nevada, Renown Children’s Hospital is recognized as one of 170 premier children’s hospitals across North America.
Increased NICU Capacity and Expanding Care
Renown Children’s Hospital’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit grew to 55 beds during the 2023 expansion. Today, 98% of infants who need intensive care can remain in northern Nevada, allowing hundreds of families to stay close to home and their support systems.
The NICU is staffed 24/7 by an interdisciplinary team of neonatologists, neonatal advanced practice providers, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, lactation consultants, social workers, case coordinators, developmental specialists, dietitians and milk technicians.
“Our goal is to keep babies and their families connected to their interdisciplinary care team at Renown, as well as their local support system, so they can thrive in our care and beyond when they graduate,” said Kris Deeter, MD, MBA, FAAP, Physician-in-Chief at Renown Children’s Hospital and Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. “Today, 98% of the babies in our NICU can stay right here in northern Nevada, ensuring hundreds of families don’t have to choose between being close to home and receiving specialized care.”
Added Specialists and Capabilities
- A 24/7 advanced practice provider program was added in April 2026 to complement existing neonatologist coverage and provide continuous specialized care.
- The Small Baby Committee was established in October 2024 to improve care and outcomes for the most premature and medically vulnerable infants.
- The Bridge Clinic launched in November 2023 to help NICU graduates transition from inpatient care to outpatient specialty services.
Features of the NICU Include
- Increased capacity to 55 beds for critically ill and premature infants.
- A 24/7 interdisciplinary team that includes seven neonatologists, five advanced practice providers, 95 registered nurses, respiratory therapists, lactation consultants, developmental specialists, dietitians, social workers, case coordinators and milk technicians.
- A dedicated team of 13 neonatal transport nurses who work with REMSA to coordinate transfers across Nevada and rural California, helping critically ill infants reach specialized care more quickly.
- Respiratory therapy support that includes 22 transport-trained clinicians and 29 clinicians with neonatal or pediatric certifications.
- Access to pediatric specialists in pulmonology, gastroenterology, otolaryngology, cardiology, hematology and oncology, infectious disease, nephrology, pediatric surgery and urology.
- Comprehensive support through lactation services, developmental care, nutrition services, social work, case coordination, Child Life Services and a neonatal support line.
Increased PICU Capability and Expanding Care
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit has continued to add subspecialties, caring for critically ill patients from newborns to young adults. Within the first year in the new space, Renown Children’s Hospital earned its independent Pediatric Trauma Center verification from the American College of Surgeons, making Renown the region’s only Pediatric Level II Trauma Center outside of Las Vegas. The PICU team treats conditions ranging from respiratory illness and infection to genetic and metabolic conditions, trauma and surgery, while also providing trauma education to rural community hospitals.
“Over the last three years, every expanded service, bed and specialist added has meant one less child and one less family who must leave the area for care. That’s what this growth is really about,” said Kristen Cleveland-Ceballos, Director of Nursing at Renown Health.
Added Specialists and Capabilities
- New surgical capabilities include orthopedic and spinal surgery and a new pediatric bariatric surgery program through the Children’s Healthy Lifestyle Clinic.
- The expanded ICU also brought pediatric dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy directly to our patients’ bedside, along with additional isolation rooms to protect immunocompromised patients to manage contagious illnesses.
- With more space and specialists, the Child Life team has tripled in size, allowing certified child life specialists, child life assistants and a new intern program to support the psychosocial needs of children from their hospital stay and beyond.
Features of the PICU Include
- Increased capacity from 11 to 16 private patient and family rooms.
- Interactive spaces for families, including reading nooks, shadow puppet corners and large projected shapes in the elevator lobby.
- Bright and engaging color palate, and child-friendly art.
- Enhanced spaces to increase health and wellness of clinicians, including a respite lounge, conference spaces and sit-stand desks.
For more information, visit renown.org/childrens.
About Renown Health
Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, not-for-profit integrated academic healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, and a medical group and urgent care network. To join the Renown Health team, visit renown.org/careers.
