Coffeyville Regional Medical Center now has new equipment to help treat newborns with jaundice, thanks to a grant from the Coffeyville Area Community Foundation.

Hospital officials say more than 80 percent of newborns develop jaundice, also known as hyperbilirubinemia. While common, the condition can be serious if left untreated, especially in premature infants. At CRMC, babies are closely monitored after birth. If jaundice is detected early, treatment typically involves placing the infant in a bilibed for phototherapy, with most cases improving within about 24 hours.

The hospital used a $3,000 grant from CACF, along with additional funds, to purchase a new Skylife Phototherapy System. The updated equipment replaces a bilibed that had been in use for more than 15 years.