Eye on Health: Keeping families together in the NICU

When a newborn needs specialized care, families want to stay close. Beacon Children's Hospital and Elkhart General Hospital make that possible through a unique approach that helps parents and babies remain together during a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay.

Robert White, MD, Director of the Regional Newborn Program for Beacon Health System, and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Amber Wallace discuss this approach to NICU care in the September 2026 WSBT Eye on Health segment. Watch how Couplet Care and single-family rooms create a more connected experience for families facing high-risk pregnancies, premature births and other newborn health challenges.

A different approach to newborn care

Through Couplet Care, mothers can remain with their babies during treatment. Single-family rooms provide a private space where families can bond, participate in care and spend valuable time together.

The Couplet Care model has provided meaningful benefits for families. The model helps some babies go home sooner and keeps parents closely involved in their newborn's care.

Every decision centers on one goal: helping babies thrive while keeping families connected during some of life's most important moments.

Leading the way in family-centered NICU care

Beacon Children's Hospital's NICU opened in 2017 and became the first in the United States with both Couplet Care and Single-Family Room capabilities. Elkhart General Hospital later adopted the same approach.

Whether a baby needs Level II (Elkhart General Hospital) or Level III (Beacon Children's Hospital) neonatal care, families can feel confident knowing experienced specialists work together to provide the right level of support.