What a Level 4 NICU Means for You and Your Baby

When premature and critically ill newborns need specialty care, they get it in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). There, experts care for newborns, helping them grow and reach important milestones. Those with the greatest needs need the highest level of care, available only in a Level 4 NICU.

A NICU is essentially a high-tech nursery where specialists provide intensive care for premature and critically ill infants. Special equipment monitors your baby’s breathing, blood pressure, and other vitals. Intravenous (IV) lines give your infant medication and fluids. Other technologies help your baby breathe, eat, and more.

If a baby you love requires special care during the first days of life, here’s what you should know.

NICU Levels Explained

NICUs offer 24-hour care for babies born prematurely or with serious health issues. However, not all NICUs are created alike. They have four levels, and as the levels increase, so do the services and capabilities.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes four levels of NICU care. These are:

• Level 1. This is the lowest level of NICU care available. Level 1 NICU staff members are primary care providers, such as pediatricians and nurse practitioners. They can stabilize infants born between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation. If necessary, they can also prepare these infants to transfer to another facility offering a higher level of care.
• Level 2. Along with the services and team members from Level 1 NICUs, the Level 2 team includes neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, and pediatric hospitalists. They stabilize and care for newborns who reach at least 32 weeks of gestation and weigh at least 3.3 pounds. Services they provide include short-term breathing assistance and other non-subspecialty care.
• Level 3. Infants born before 32 weeks or after receive comprehensive care for critical illnesses in Level 3 NICUs. Pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric surgeons, and other subspecialists join the care team. Team members perform advanced imaging tests, including MRI and echocardiography, to identify underlying health issues and develop individualized treatment plans.
• Level 4. Lower-level NICUs transfer their most complex cases to Level 4 NICUs. That’s because Level 4 NICUs house a comprehensive range of pediatric subspecialists on site, such as pediatric cardiologists and pediatric neurologists. They offer the highest level of care possible and have diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical capabilities to serve any neonatal need.

How a Level 4 NICU Serves You

In an emergency situation, every minute matters. By turning to a Level 4 NICU, your child can get any type of advanced care needed under one roof. There’s no need to transfer or wait. Everything needed is right there.

At Driscoll Children’s Hospital, our Level 4 NICU is the first and only of its kind in South Texas. Every day, our caring team provides family-centered care. They aim to save and improve the lives of the most vulnerable patients during their most vulnerable times.

Our team diagnoses, treats and manages any condition affecting newborns, from anemia and birth defects to feeding difficulties and congenital heart issues. Together, they provide compassionate care with special touches to maximize bonding opportunities for babies and their parents.

Key features of our Level 4 NICU include:

• 26,000 square feet of space dedicated to neonatal care
• 60-bed capacity with 18 private patient rooms
• Advanced NICU technology for detecting, treating, and monitoring the youngest patients
• Multidisciplinary team of medical specialists and others, including social workers, child life specialists, music therapists, lactation consultants, and occupational, physical, and speech-language pathologists
• On-site, 24/7 oversight by neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners

Level 4 NICU: The Facts

Anytime an infant needs specialized medical care, seek expert care at a NICU. To ensure you have all the needed services under one roof, come to Driscoll Children’s Hospital, home to the area’s only Level 4 NICU.

1. Babies born prematurely or with critical health conditions receive specialty care at the NICU.
2. There are four levels of NICU to help with cases ranging from common to complex. The highest level of care is Level 4. In Level 4 ICUs, a multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive services for any neonatal need.
3. The Level 4 NICU at Driscoll Children’s Hospital provides compassionate care. Using advanced technology and years of experience, our specialists diagnose, treat and manage any and every neonatal condition, helping to write one successful NICU story after another.

Wondering who serves the tiniest, most vulnerable children in South Texas? Meet our NICU team.