SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital is advancing neonatal care with the introduction of the Neo-View video laryngoscope, a cutting-edge device designed to improve the safety and success of intubating newborns – especially those born prematurely.

The technology has been made possible thanks to a $7,200 gift from the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation. “We know that our patients appreciate the convenience of being able to deliver their baby within their own community so it’s important to us to have the latest technology to ensure the overall health and safety of our birthing moms and their newborns,” according to Mason Gravelle, Philanthropy Development Manager, Wisconsin Region, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation.

Unlike traditional laryngoscopes, which require providers to be eye-level with the baby’s mouth to visually locate the vocal cords, the Neo-View features a fiber optic camera built into the laryngoscope. This camera transmits a high-definition image to a separate screen, giving clinicians a clearer, larger view of the baby’s airway anatomy.

“This technology will be a game-changer for our team and the infants we care for,” according to Loraine Carley, RN, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Manager of Women’s Health – Inpatient OB/GYN. “This makes placing an endotracheal tube easier, faster, and more successful. It’s especially helpful for teaching, because everyone in the room can see what’s happening on the screen.”

Intubating infants – particularly those born prematurely – can be challenging due to their small airways, higher larynx position, larger tongues, and limited cardiopulmonary reserves. These factors make visualization difficult and increase the risk of rapid oxygen desaturation during the procedure.

The Neo-View is part of SSM Health’s ongoing commitment to investing in technologies that enhance patient outcomes and support clinical excellence.

Thanks to a $7,200 gift from the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital’s Women’s Health now has access to a Neo-View video laryngoscope, a cutting-edge device designed to improve the safety and success of intubating newborns – especially those born prematurely.