Becoming a parent is often anxiety provoking. Whether you have a healthy baby or a baby that requires specialized care after birth, our Neonatal Care Team is here through it all. We strive to promote seamless care for our community’s babies through collaboration with an astute, skilled, and committed group of nurses and pediatricians.
Our neonatal nurse practitioners provide care at Bristol Regional Medical Center and Indian Path Hospital, giving you peace of mind, knowing our team extends beyond the walls of our office.
The Neonatal Care Team specializes in the following:
- Delivery room management, including resuscitation
- Assisting in establishing a connection immediately with a pediatrician
- Routine newborn care
- Care for critically ill infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Transitional care and stabilization
- Facilitation of transfer to a higher level of care when warranted
Originally from Eastern KY (Pike County), Leah Bailiff, NNP obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN) and her Master of Science in Nursing – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from the University of Louisville (Louisville, KY).
With over 28 years of providing care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Leah feels that her role is to assist families from delivery to discharge, setting them up for a lifetime of success.
“I have a passion for working with newborns and parents to ensure they have the best path to a long healthy life,” said Leah. “Providing the best care from the beginning makes a great impact, and I’m happy to be able to fill that role.”
Leah lives in Hawkins County and enjoys spending time with her family and practicing yoga and Pilates.
Originally from Wise, VA, Amber Coomer, NNP obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Radford University (Radford, VA) and her Master of Science in Nursing – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN). She has dedicated the past 20 years of her career to neonatal care. Amber is passionate about caring for babies and seeks to optimize outcomes for each patient and family she encounters.
“My role as an NNP fulfills not only my love for neonatal nursing but also allows me to establish and execute comprehensive care for our seemingly delicate yet resilient patients,” says Amber. ”Helping babies flourish from the beginning is beyond rewarding for all involved. It is humbling to be a tiny part of someone’s story.”
Originally from Kingsport, Jennifer Mason, NNP obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN) and her Master of Science in Nursing – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from East Carolina University (Greenville, SC). Jennifer has worked with babies in neonatal care for over 20 years and enjoys working with the team, some of whom she trained with and has known for many years.
“I enjoy being an extra hand for the Pediatricians, extending care beyond the walls of their office, providing 24/7 care and access when needed most,” said Jennifer. “I love working with this team! They are truly the best.”
When she’s not caring for babies in the NICU, Jennifer teaches survival swim lessons to babies and toddlers with TriStar ISR, teaching life-saving skills to survive an aquatic accident if they find themselves alone in the water.
A native of Southwest Virginia, Kelli West, NNP has served the Kingsport community for over 26 years at Holston Valley Medical Center. Kelli obtained her Master of Science in Nursing – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at the University of Alabama (Birmingham, Ala.) and her Bachelor of Nursing at East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN).
“My goal is to work with the family from the start,” said Kelli. “I am very detail oriented in my approach, which is necessary to prevent any issues and set them up for success.”
Kelli also finds joy in educating and mentoring new nurses in the neonatal field. “I work with local programs to mentor and educate the next generation of nursing professionals. It brings me great joy.”
