News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 10, 2026
CONTACT: Brooke Neudorf, Brooke.Neudorf@providence.org , (806)725-6365
Covenant Children’s Celebrates Official Opening
of Small Baby NICU
ENHANCING CARE FOR PATIENTS BORN BEFORE 30 WEEKS
LUBBOCK, TX- Covenant Children’s is proud to announce the official opening of its specialized Small Baby Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), now fully operational and caring for premature infants born before 30 weeks gestation. The newly completed, state-of-the-art unit adds nine dedicated beds designed to meet the unique needs of the region’s smallest patients.
As the region’s only licensed, freestanding children’s hospital, Covenant Children’s has long provided exceptional care for premature infants. The Small Baby NICU offers a dedicated space that enhances our ability to deliver specialized treatment in a controlled environment. The facility will allow our medical team to respond more swiftly to the needs of our smallest patients, thanks to:
- Lower Lighting and Noise Levels: Creating a tranquil environment that reduces stress and promotes healing.
- Less Guest Foot Traffic: Minimizing disturbances and providing a calm atmosphere for sensitive newborns.
- Enhanced Infection Control: Implementing strict protocols to safeguard against infections and ensure the health and safety of our patients.
“Covenant Children’s is built specifically for children, with dedicated specialists and expertise focused entirely on pediatric care, including the expansion of our Small Baby NICU,” said Shannon Bates, chief nursing officer at Covenant Children’s. “The Small Baby Unit is staffed by a team with expertise in caring for premature infants, which will help improve care and outcomes.”
Covenant Children’s serves more than 600 patients in our NICU annually. The addition of the Small Baby NICU increases total NICU capacity to more than 50 beds, allowing us to care for more infants in need while ensuring those born earliest receive the highest level of specialized support.
Emily Young, chief philanthropy officer of the Covenant Heath Foundation, said, “The Small Baby NICU would not have been possible without numerous grateful patient families and friends of the foundation who have witnessed the excellent care and compassion our tiniest miracles receive here at Covenant Children’s. We are grateful for their loyal support to make many programs possible for moms and babies across our region.”
Covenant Children’s hospital remains committed to advancing neonatal care and supporting families through every stage of their journey. We extend our sincere gratitude to the donors whose generosity made this milestone possible and to all who support Covenant Children’s mission.
About Covenant Health:
Covenant Children’s is the only independently licensed, freestanding, children’s hospital in West Texas and eastern New Mexico and is one of only eight members of the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas and is the only one in our region. As the home of compassionate care and health excellence, it is Covenant Health’s vision to create Health for a Better World. Covenant Health is home to the only free-standing children’s hospital in West Texas, the only certified stroke center, and the best hospital in the Panhandle Plains region as voted by U.S. News & World Report. For more than 100 years our pioneering spirit has been moving us forward, bringing world-class research and the most advanced treatments to West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Our connected health network of eight hospitals, and more than 6,000 caregivers allows us to provide our patients with the excellent care they deserve, with more locations, doctors and specialists. To learn more about Covenant Health, please visit covenanthealth.org or our Facebook, LinkedIn, or X, pages.
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