What it means
According to the Texas Health and Human Services, there are 24 hospitals statewide and four in the Houston region which have earned the Level IV designation, which is the highest certification available for NICU facilities. The designation is determined through the Texas HHS Perinatal Advisory Council, which reviews hospital NICUs on a quarterly basis for the number of services and level of care provided by the hospital.
"This accomplishment required significant collaboration among NICU leadership, staff and employees, as well as comprehensive support services that help the neonatal team care for these critically ill babies, including pharmacy, respiratory, physical therapy, lactation, nutrition and social services," the release stated.
Texas Children's Hospital has 14 beds available in its NICU, and it provides 24/7 camera access for parents as well as treatment services for premature births, genetic anomalies and any increased surgical needs, according to the release.
In their words
- “This designation signifies to families in north Houston that Texas Children’s The Woodlands has the resources and expertise to care for the most complex neonatal cases,” said Ketrese White, president of Texas Children's The Woodlands. “These babies require around-the-clock, highly specialized, multidisciplinary care, and now families know they have access to the highest level of treatment closer to home.”
- “A NICU admission can be especially hard on parents because they are separated from their baby, which is why it’s incredibly valuable for families to have this level of care out in their community,” said Juanna Brandon, director of Patient Care Services. “It’s highly beneficial for a baby to have regular engagement with their parents to achieve their developmental milestones, so we encourage families to be in the NICU as much as possible. That’s made so much easier when the NICU is closer to the family’s home.”
