Inside One of Quebec's Six Level 3 NICUs: How the Jewish General Hospital University Health Centre Is Redefining Specialized Care for Fragile Newborns
FrançaisBy pairing advanced medical innovation with compassionate, bedside care, specialized teams ensure that the province's most vulnerable preemies survive and thrive
MONTREAL, Nov. 10, 2026 /CNW/ -- As one of only six Level 3 NICUs in the province, the Karen & Murray Dalfen Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Jewish General Hospital University Health Centre (JGH) is setting a new benchmark in specialized care for Quebec's most vulnerable newborns.
The JGH cares for approximately 550 critically ill and premature infants annually. By uniting advanced medical technology with deeply compassionate, family-centred care, specialized clinical teams ensure that fragile preemies do not just survive, but thrive, reaching critical developmental milestones and growing into healthy, active children.
"When a baby arrives prematurely or with a serious medical condition, every aspect of their care matters, because the support they receive in the NICU truly shapes the rest of their life," said Dr. Lajos Kovacs, Chief of Pediatrics and Neonatology at the JGH. "As a Level 3 centre, our team is equipped to receive specialized transfers and manage complex, high-risk cases from across Montréal and regional centres throughout Quebec. Our responsibility extends beyond emergency stabilization. Our priority is to give our smallest patients the foundation they need to live full, healthy lives."
The profound impact of this approach is reflected in the journey of baby Willow. She was born 10 weeks premature, weighing just two pounds, after her mother, Vanessa, was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. Willow required 54 days of meticulous, specialized care in the JGH NICU. Supported by attentive frontline nursing, advanced incubator technology and daily skin-to-skin bonding, Willow reached every critical milestone toward going home. Today, she is a healthy 19-month-old who is full of life.
"Thanks to the incredible care at the JGH, we were never alone," shared Ayé Vanessa Yoou and Michael Di Genova, former JGH NICU parents. "The NICU became our second home, and when Willow gained weight too fast – a risk to her heart – a nurse noticed immediately, and the doctors acted quickly. That vigilance and attention to every detail made all the difference for our daughter. Today, Willow is a happy, energetic 19-month-old. We know that it's the dedication of this team and the generosity of donors who help fund this specialized equipment that gave our daughter her future."
To deliver this level of care during the vital early moments of life, the JGH has deployed integrated all-in-one emergency care stations and centralized remote monitoring across private convalescent rooms. This donor-supported infrastructure eliminates equipment setup delays during urgent deliveries by providing instant radiant warmth, calibrated oxygenation and continuous vital monitoring right at the bedside, while maintaining continuous physiological oversight from delivery through discharge.
"In neonatal intensive care, seconds matter, but so does continuous, round-the-clock vigilance," said Chloé Décarie-Drolet, Head Nurse, NICU and Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic. "Having all-in-one emergency care stations pre-equipped at the delivery bedside eliminates logistical delays during critical births, allowing us to focus entirely on the baby. Paired with centralized remote monitoring, this infrastructure allows families to have the privacy of individual rooms, while creating an unbroken safety net that supports our nurses and reassures parents that their baby is protected at all times."
Alongside advanced technology, the Dalfen NICU embeds neuro-protective developmental care directly into daily clinical practice. By managing the sensory environment – dampening ambient noise, softening incubator lighting and facilitating extended skin-to-skin contact through specialized kangaroo chairs – the unit actively nurtures brain development while integrating parents as active, essential partners at the bedside from day one.
To learn more about how donor-supported innovation is transforming neonatal care and supporting Quebec families, visit jghfoundation.org.
About the Jewish General Hospital University Health Centre
The Jewish General Hospital University Health Centre (JGH), repeatedly ranked by Newsweek among the top three hospitals in Quebec, the top 10 in Canada and the top 125 in the world, is an acute and specialized care McGill University teaching hospital. The JGH has been serving a diverse patient population irrespective of religion, language or ethnic background since it was founded in 1934.
The Hospital is home to one of the highest numbers of births in Quebec, with a specialization in high-risk pregnancies and neonatal care; one of the busiest and most efficient emergency departments in the province; the Segal Cancer Centre, which is recognized internationally for its groundbreaking cancer treatment and research achievements; and the Lady Davis Institute, one of the largest and most influential medical research centres in Canada. The JGH is the hub institution of the regional health authority known as Santé Québec West-Central Montreal Health and Social Services University Network.
About the Jewish General Hospital Foundation
Since 1969, the mission of the Jewish General Hospital Foundation has been to advance healthcare and medical research for the people of Quebec by supporting Montréal's Jewish General Hospital University Health Centre. The Foundation provides essential assistance to the Hospital to enhance its extraordinary patient care, further scientific discovery and acquire innovative medical equipment. We partner with inspired community members to implement a variety of fundraising initiatives to achieve the Hospital's ambitious goals.
SOURCE Jewish General Hospital Foundation (JGHF)
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