
American Fork Hospital is a nationally recognized community hospital in North Utah County. It was first opened in 1937 as a 25-bed hospital with an operating room, maternity room, glassed-in nursery, kitchen, and a sterilizer room. The hospital has since expanded and relocated several times, and in 2021, it opened a new newborn intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU has 20 individual rooms and can care for babies as young as 32 weeks, serving twice as many of the youngest babies in the community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | American Fork Hospital |
| Location | American Fork, North Utah County, Utah, United States |
| Type | Community hospital |
| Year opened | 1937 |
| Number of beds | 55 |
| Services | Women's center, emergency department, maternity services, newborn intensive care unit (NICU), lactation clinic, cancer care |
| Awards and recognition | Recognized as one of America's top 100 hospitals for cost efficiency and quality care, received awards from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Vizient, and the Utah Safety Council |
| Newborn intensive care unit (NICU) | Level II NICU, 20 individual rooms, cares for babies as young as 32 weeks or two months premature |
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What You'll Learn

American Fork Hospital has a Level II NICU
American Fork Hospital is a nationally recognised community hospital in North Utah County. It is a Level III Trauma Centre and has a range of services, including a women's centre, an emergency department, and a newborn intensive care unit (NICU).
The hospital has a Level II NICU, which was completed and opened in 2021. The NICU has 20 individual rooms, including private rooms for parents and babies, and can care for babies as young as 32 weeks, or two months premature. The expansion of the NICU was driven by Dr Shaun Odell, the NICU's medical director, and was in response to the growing need for NICU services in the community.
The Level II NICU at American Fork Hospital allows for the care of babies who require additional support due to younger gestational ages. The expansion of the unit means that the hospital can now serve twice as many young babies, increasing from around 2000 nights a year to 5000 nights a year. This means that more families can stay close to home while their babies are in the hospital.
American Fork Hospital has become a top choice for maternity services, with between 2500 and 3000 births taking place at the hospital each year. The hospital's NICU has also admitted, on average, 300 newborns each year. The hospital's team of women's and newborn caregivers is highly experienced and prioritises the comfort, safety, and healing of their patients.
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The NICU has 20 individual rooms
The NICU at American Fork Hospital has 20 individual rooms, each with its own space. This is a significant upgrade from the previous Level II NICU, which had 10 beds in an open-floor environment. The new NICU provides private rooms for parents and babies to stay together, promoting early bonding and long-term benefits for the child's development. This expansion was made possible through the generous donations of the community and the support of Intermountain Healthcare leadership.
The Level II NICU at American Fork Hospital is designed to cater to the growing demand for neonatal intensive care in northern Utah County. With the expansion, the NICU can now accommodate twice as many babies, including those as young as 32 weeks or two months premature. This means that approximately 5,000 nights of care can be provided annually, a substantial increase from the previous 2,000 nights.
The new NICU at American Fork Hospital reflects the hospital's commitment to providing comprehensive and advanced medical services to the community. It is equipped with the necessary resources and a highly experienced team of caregivers to ensure the comfort, safety, and healing of newborns requiring intensive care. The expansion also underscores the hospital's recognition as a top choice for maternity services, delivering exceptional care to expectant mothers and their babies.
The establishment of the NICU at American Fork Hospital is a testament to the dedication of its medical professionals, particularly Dr. Shaun Odell, the hospital's NICU Medical Director. Dr. Odell, alongside the capable caregivers, recognised the need for expanded neonatal intensive care services in the community. Through their efforts and the support of donors, the NICU expansion became a reality, ensuring that newborns receive the best possible care close to home.
The impact of the NICU expansion at American Fork Hospital is evident in the experiences of families who have utilised its services. Liz Hartman, a mother whose son Ryder received care in the NICU, expressed her gratitude for the private room that allowed her family to be together and support Ryder's growth journey. Stories like theirs highlight the positive impact of the expanded NICU, providing a "home away from home" for families navigating the challenges of having a newborn in intensive care.
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The NICU can care for babies as young as 32 weeks
American Fork Hospital is a nationally recognized community hospital in North Utah County. It is a Level III Trauma Center and has a range of services, including a women's center with single-room birthing and an emergency department. The hospital has a Level II newborn intensive care unit NICU that can care for babies as young as 32 weeks gestational age.
The NICU at American Fork Hospital is an important resource for the community, especially with the rapid growth in Utah County. The expansion of the NICU allows for the care of babies who are born prematurely or who require additional medical support. The new NICU has 20 individual rooms, double the number of beds in the previous unit, allowing them to serve twice as many babies. This includes babies as young as 32 weeks or two months premature.
The Level II NICU at American Fork Hospital provides specialized care for newborns who require intensive care due to premature birth or other medical complications. The unit is staffed by a dedicated team of neonatologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who are trained in the unique needs of premature and critically ill newborns.
The expansion of the NICU was driven by the need to provide more comprehensive care to the community. Previously, some babies had to be transferred to larger facilities, such as Utah Valley Hospital, due to their younger gestational age or the need for specialized surgery. Now, with the expanded NICU, more babies can receive the care they need closer to home, which has been shown to have significant benefits for both the babies and their families.
The NICU at American Fork Hospital is committed to providing the highest level of care to newborns in need. The expansion of the unit demonstrates the hospital's dedication to meeting the growing demands of the community and ensuring that babies and their families have access to the best possible care.
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The NICU expansion was driven by Dr. Shaun Odell
American Fork Hospital is a nationally recognized community hospital in North Utah County. It first opened its doors in 1937 as a 25-bed facility and has since expanded and relocated several times. In 2021, the hospital opened a new newborn intensive care unit (NICU), doubling its capacity to serve the youngest babies.
Dr. Odell, with the support of generous donors and Intermountain Healthcare leadership, led the effort to increase bed space from 10 to 20 individual rooms. The expanded NICU can now accommodate babies as young as 32 weeks, or two months premature. This allows parents to stay with their babies during the care process, facilitating early bonding and improving clinical outcomes.
In addition to increasing bed capacity, Dr. Odell emphasized the importance of keeping families together and close to home. He explained that "babies do better when they get to stay with their parents," and that the benefits of early bonding are "incalculable." The expansion enables American Fork Hospital to meet the growing demand for NICU services in the community and provide specialized care for premature and critically ill newborns.
The NICU expansion at American Fork Hospital is a testament to the dedication and expertise of Dr. Shaun Odell and his team. Their efforts have made a significant impact on the community, ensuring that newborns receive the highest level of care while remaining close to their families.
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The NICU has private rooms for parents and babies
American Fork Hospital is a nationally recognized community hospital in North Utah County. It has a Level II newborn intensive care unit (NICU) that has been expanded to help twice as many of the youngest babies. The NICU has 20 individual rooms, with private rooms for parents and babies, allowing parents to stay with their baby during the care process. This helps the child to bond with their parents from an early stage.
The previous Level II NICU had ten beds in an open-floor environment. The new NICU has 20 single-family rooms, allowing babies as young as 32 weeks or two months premature to be cared for. The hospital is one of the busiest in the state for births, bringing around 3,000 lives into the world per year, or about 8.5 babies per day. The expansion of the NICU will help meet the demand and keep up with the growth in the surrounding area.
The construction of the new NICU was driven by Dr. Shaun Odell, the Medical Director of the American Fork Hospital NICU. The expansion was made possible thanks to generous donors and the support of Intermountain Healthcare leadership. The new unit will increase the number of nights of care provided from 2,000 per year to 5,000 per year, representing the hospital's effort to grow with the community.
The NICU at American Fork Hospital provides expert care for newborns who require additional care due to younger development. It allows parents to be involved in their baby's growth and journey, as expressed by Liz Hartman, a mother whose son was in the NICU. She felt that the new NICU provided a space for her family to be together and support their baby.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, American Fork Hospital has a Level II newborn intensive care unit (NICU).
The hospital opened its NICU in 2021.
The NICU at American Fork Hospital has 20 individual rooms, with the capacity to care for babies as young as 32 weeks or two months premature.
Between 2,500 and 3,000 babies are born at American Fork Hospital each year.
American Fork Hospital offers comprehensive medical services including expert consultations, advanced diagnostics, surgical excellence, and personalized treatment plans. The hospital is also equipped with a 27-suite women's center featuring single-room birthing and a 17-bed emergency department.


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