HSHS announces $17.2 million NICU renovation to enhance care for newborns and families at St. Vincent Children’s Hospital
March 17, 2026
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is investing $17.2 million in advancing care for critically-ill babies at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital in Green Bay.
The investment makes way for a complete renovation of the St. Vincent Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where immediate, 24/7 care is provided for infants born too early, with low birthweights, congenital birth defects or unanticipated difficulties that may happen during delivery.
“The NICU at St. Vincent Children’s Hospital is staffed by some of the region’s most experienced neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses and clinical teams,” said Bob Erickson, President and CEO, HSHS Wisconsin Market. “This project enhances the physical environment where exceptional care is already delivered, providing our most fragile patients and the families who love them with the comfort, space and privacy they need during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”
The renovation will introduce modern features thoughtfully designed to support the unique needs of NICU patients, their families and care teams. Enhancements include private and semi-private rooms that provide greater comfort and privacy, along with a calm, healing environment that promotes rest and reduces stress for both infants and their loved ones. The project also includes optimized clinical workspaces that enable caregivers to deliver the highest level of care while ensuring families have the space they need to remain close to their newborns.
St. Vincent Children’s Hospital NICU is located within St. Vincent Hospital, 835 S. Van Buren St. in Green Bay. Babies born at St. Vincent and in need of critical care have immediate access to the NICU experts and spaces. The Level III NICU also offers telemedicine care to rural hospitals to provide on-demand care and facilitate patient transfers.
“This renovation is a natural progression for the future of our children’s hospital and demonstrative of our commitment to the care of kids in this region – even the littlest ones,” said Amy Bardon, Director of Nursing at St. Vincent Children’s Hospital. “St. Vincent Children’s Hospital and the planned NICU renovation meet a critical community need.”
More babies in the U.S. are requiring NICU care. Nearly 10 percent of infants were admitted to a NICU in the United States in 2023, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics, a 13 percent increase from admissions in 2016.
Construction is anticipated to officially begin in fall 2026 and be complete approximately one year later. A multi-phase approach to construction will ensure high-quality patient care and experience can continue to be delivered during construction. To learn more, visit: www.hshs.org/st-vincent-childrens/newnicu
The St. Vincent Children’s Hospital NICU renovation announcement comes approximately one year after HSHS’ announcement of an historic $270 million strategic capital investment to revitalize St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center and St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. The $17.2 million NICU renovation at St. Vincent will be funded through that capital investment. To learn more about the enhancements currently underway on the St. Mary’s campus, visit: www.stmarysgb.org/future
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About Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS)
Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is a Catholic health care ministry founded in 1875. Dedicated to our Mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through high-quality Franciscan health care, HSHS clinicians provide exceptional care centered on the whole person. Based in Springfield, Illinois, HSHS employs nearly 11,000 colleagues who provide care in 13 acute-care, children’s and critical-access hospitals and home health and hospice programs in Central and Southern Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin. HSHS is aligned with more than 1,000 primary and specialty physicians and advanced practitioners through its owned affiliates HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular and its partnership with Prevea Health. For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.
The investment makes way for a complete renovation of the St. Vincent Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where immediate, 24/7 care is provided for infants born too early, with low birthweights, congenital birth defects or unanticipated difficulties that may happen during delivery.
“The NICU at St. Vincent Children’s Hospital is staffed by some of the region’s most experienced neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses and clinical teams,” said Bob Erickson, President and CEO, HSHS Wisconsin Market. “This project enhances the physical environment where exceptional care is already delivered, providing our most fragile patients and the families who love them with the comfort, space and privacy they need during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”
The renovation will introduce modern features thoughtfully designed to support the unique needs of NICU patients, their families and care teams. Enhancements include private and semi-private rooms that provide greater comfort and privacy, along with a calm, healing environment that promotes rest and reduces stress for both infants and their loved ones. The project also includes optimized clinical workspaces that enable caregivers to deliver the highest level of care while ensuring families have the space they need to remain close to their newborns.
St. Vincent Children’s Hospital NICU is located within St. Vincent Hospital, 835 S. Van Buren St. in Green Bay. Babies born at St. Vincent and in need of critical care have immediate access to the NICU experts and spaces. The Level III NICU also offers telemedicine care to rural hospitals to provide on-demand care and facilitate patient transfers.
“This renovation is a natural progression for the future of our children’s hospital and demonstrative of our commitment to the care of kids in this region – even the littlest ones,” said Amy Bardon, Director of Nursing at St. Vincent Children’s Hospital. “St. Vincent Children’s Hospital and the planned NICU renovation meet a critical community need.”
More babies in the U.S. are requiring NICU care. Nearly 10 percent of infants were admitted to a NICU in the United States in 2023, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics, a 13 percent increase from admissions in 2016.
Construction is anticipated to officially begin in fall 2026 and be complete approximately one year later. A multi-phase approach to construction will ensure high-quality patient care and experience can continue to be delivered during construction. To learn more, visit: www.hshs.org/st-vincent-childrens/newnicu
The St. Vincent Children’s Hospital NICU renovation announcement comes approximately one year after HSHS’ announcement of an historic $270 million strategic capital investment to revitalize St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center and St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. The $17.2 million NICU renovation at St. Vincent will be funded through that capital investment. To learn more about the enhancements currently underway on the St. Mary’s campus, visit: www.stmarysgb.org/future
###
About Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS)
Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is a Catholic health care ministry founded in 1875. Dedicated to our Mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through high-quality Franciscan health care, HSHS clinicians provide exceptional care centered on the whole person. Based in Springfield, Illinois, HSHS employs nearly 11,000 colleagues who provide care in 13 acute-care, children’s and critical-access hospitals and home health and hospice programs in Central and Southern Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin. HSHS is aligned with more than 1,000 primary and specialty physicians and advanced practitioners through its owned affiliates HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular and its partnership with Prevea Health. For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.
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Angela Deja
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