story and photo by
Van Mitchell, Staff Writer
Stillwater Medical, in partnership with Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health, recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the OnCue Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the only Level II NICU in north-central Oklahoma with a dedicated neonatologist and 24-hour neonatal nurse practitioner coverage. This $2.5 million investment brings advanced care to the region, reducing the need for patient transport.
The OnCue NICU will open for patients in mid-March, offering a brighter future for families in Stillwater and surrounding communities.
OnCue provided the lead gift to name the facility.
“Today is a milestone for our community. One made possible by the passion, generosity, and unwavering support of those who care for others,” Laura Aufleger, President of OnCue said. “Our OnCue team has always believed in giving back and doing the right thing. But this moment is truly extraordinary. This is history in the making. The largest single gift Stillwater Medical has ever received, combined with the generosity of so many has fully funded this unit. (This is) 100% community driven, 100% life changing. Together, we have built the OnCue Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.” Aufleger said the OnCue NICU is more than just a building.
“This NICU, it isn’t just a building, it’s hope,” she said. “It is a promise to families that their most fragile moments will be met with the best care right here at home. For local families this is not just a hospital wing, it’s a future. It is a place where tiny infants can grow and where parents don’t have to travel for miles for the care that their baby needs, and where love and medicine come together to save lives.”
Michal Shaw, Vice President of Foundation and Community Relations at Stillwater Medical, said the OnCue NICU is a testament to the power of community. “Together, we’ve created a space where families will be held in care, compassion, and community, right here in Stillwater,” he said.
The OnCue NICU features 10 nurseries, a C-section procedure room, a lactation room, family spaces, and state-of-the-art technology to provide critical care for the community’s most vulnerable patients. These patients, typically at or after 32 weeks gestation, will receive monitoring and treatment for conditions like jaundice, feeding issues, or mild respiratory complications, while being cared for by a team of neonatologists, specialized nurses, and respiratory therapists.
Dr. Trent Tipple, M.D., FAAP, Chief of Neonatology at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, said there’s a critical need for how we utilize NICU beds in the state of Oklahoma. “We have more babies than beds. But most importantly, we have families who need to be with their babies,” he said. “I’m not just a neonatologist; I’m also a NICU dad. And we had the experience of a 35-week delivery and the blessing of a five-minute journey to our baby. By bringing specialized care closer to home, we ensure that newborns receive the high-level medical attention they need without the added stress of traveling long distances. “Having care closer to home means families can stay in their communities while their children receive treatment rather than traveling to Oklahoma City or Tulsa. This facility ensures that even when higher levels of care are needed, the transition will be seamless, minimizing the disruption to families and their support systems.”
The need for neonatal care in Oklahoma is great. Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal death and disability. In Oklahoma, nearly 1 in 8 babies are born too early, with 11.9% of births being preterm in 2021, compared to the national average of 10.5%. The new neonatal ICU in north-central Oklahoma will address this critical need.
Current Level III and IV NICUs provide the highest level of newborn care but are often at maximum capacity. Having a Level II NICU in the state capable of caring for babies who need more advanced support than routine newborn care, will ensure babies can stay close to home. Research shows babies who remain closer to home recover faster, experiencing improved bonding, breastfeeding rates, and emotional well-being.
OU Health President and CEO Dr. Richard Lofgren, M.D., MPH, FACP, said this strategic partnership expands neonatal intensive care across Oklahoma, bringing needed care to more communities.
“Every child and family in Oklahoma deserve access to the highest quality healthcare close to home,” he said. “Providing care within the community ensures the best outcomes and supports families during critical times. As the flagship academic health system, we are committed to delivering essential specialty and sub-specialty services. This partnership with Stillwater Medical is a significant step toward ensuring no child in our state must travel far to receive the care they need.”
Denise Webber, CEO of Stillwater Medical, reflected on the facility’s impact.
“The OnCue NICU is a shining example of our commitment to improving lives through excellent, quality care close to home. It’s personal for us at Stillwater Medical, and this new facility allows us to serve our neighbors – and the state – like never before,” Webber said. “Thank you to our local government, our state government, the people, our citizens, our community, our leaders, our team members, our physicians. Thank you to everybody for bringing us here today.”
Stillwater Medical Center is a not-for-profit, public trust health system committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to north-central Oklahoma. It strives to be responsive to the needs of people in the region and serve those needs in a financially sound manner. Since 1978, it has provided compassionate women’s healthcare, evolving with the needs of each generation.
