Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was verified as a Level of Care IV Neonatal Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This three-year recognition distinguishes the Egleston NICU for demonstrating the highest levels of quality care and collaboration across specialties to meet the needs of premature and critically ill newborns.

As the only Level IV Neonatal Center in Georgia, the Egleston NICU teams care for babies born at all gestational ages and with any medical or surgical need.

“I am so proud that the Egleston NICU is recognized for the highly specialized services that our clinical teams provide to the most critical neonates in the state,” said Brenda Poindexter, MD, Chief of Neonatology at Children’s. “We applaud the Georgia DPH for their decision to utilize the AAP Standards for Levels of Neonatal Care—II, III, & IV—and believe that will improve outcomes for babies throughout our state.”

To achieve this designation, Children’s welcomed surveyors from the Georgia DPH in September to review benchmarks and multiple cases within the Egleston NICU, tour the unit and meet with staff and clinical leadership. In all areas, the Egleston NICU met exemplary performance requirements set by the Maternal and Neonatal Levels of Care Designation Program and was officially named a Level of Care IV Neonatal Center. Notes of exemplary performance in the DPH survey report included the collaborative spirit of the NICU employees, the shared goal of keeping the best interest of the patients top of mind, close collaboration among multiple specialties, and the variety of employee wellness initiatives.

“On the heels of our Magnet redesignation for both Egleston and Scottish Rite, I am thrilled the Egleston NICU received this prestigious recognition of Level IV Neonatal Center – the first in Georgia," said Donna Hyland, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s. “The specialized pediatric care is what sets Children’s apart, and this designation affirms that our clinical teams truly go above and beyond for our patients and patient families each and every day.”

Ranked by U.S. News & Work Report as one of the best hospitals for pediatric neonatology, the NICUs at Children’s combine advanced technology and highly trained healthcare professionals to care for our tiniest patients. With approximately 1,000 neonatal admissions annually, Children’s provides comprehensive care for critically ill newborns and premature infants in a specialized environment.