Valleywise Health has become the first hospital in Arizona to implement the LifeBubble™ Umbilical Line Securement System, an innovative neonatal technology designed to provide a gentler, more secure method of stabilizing umbilical lines for premature and critically ill infants.
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The implementation marks an important advancement in neonatal care for Arizona’s most vulnerable patients and is expected to benefit babies being cared for annually in Valleywise Health’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The technology was introduced at Valleywise Health through the leadership of its NICU clinicians who identified the opportunity to enhance care for neonatal patients. Implementation was made possible through a grant of more than $12,000 awarded by members of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun, a local giving circle dedicated to funding impactful community initiatives.
“The addition of LifeBubble technology highlights our ongoing commitment to providing the most advanced, evidence-based care to the infants who need it most. Umbilical catheters are a vital lifeline for our most vulnerable patients, granting immediate access to medications, nutrition, fluids, and other lifesaving therapies during their critical first days,” said Dr. Jody Carter, Chair of Pediatrics at Valleywise Health. “Bringing this technology to Valleywise Health further demonstrates our dedication to advancing neonatal care and ensuring every baby entrusted to our NICU receives the highest standard of treatment. We are immensely proud to fulfill our mission of providing exceptional care without exception and are profoundly grateful to the compassionate Valley women whose support made this possible.”
LifeBubble is designed to help secure umbilical catheters used in newborns requiring critical care, reducing catheter migration and malposition while maintaining clinician access to the insertion site. Clinical studies conducted at Oregon Health and Science University and Stanford Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the 2024 Journal of Perinatology have demonstrated promising results, including reductions in catheter migration and high nursing satisfaction.
“Every improvement we can make for our smallest and most medically fragile patients matters,” said Alyssa Munson, MSN, RN, NICU Developmental Care Coordinator at Valleywise Health. “LifeBubble represents an opportunity to bring an evidence-based innovation to Arizona that may help improve the healthcare experience for both infants and clinicians. We are grateful to the women of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun for helping make this advancement possible.”
As the first healthcare organization in Arizona to adopt the technology, Valleywise Health solidifies its commitment to innovation, patient safety and continuously improving outcomes for families throughout the state. For members of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun, supporting the project was an opportunity to make a direct and measurable impact on patient care.
“When our members learned about this technology and how it can improve care for vulnerable newborns, they immediately recognized the difference it could make,” said Pam Stelzer, Valleywise Board Member and member of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun. “This initiative is a strong example of how local philanthropy can create meaningful change in our community. The women who contributed to this grant should be proud knowing their generosity is helping bring innovative care to Arizona families.”
The implementation highlights the powerful intersection of healthcare innovation, frontline clinical leadership and community philanthropy.
