For families with critically ill newborns, access to specialized medical care can make all the difference. Now, one Atlanta hospital has renewed its recognition for providing the highest level of neonatal care available.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta announced Oct. 19 that the neonatal intensive care unit at Arthur M. Blank Hospital received its Level IV redesignation from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The three-year recognition places the hospital among just four Level IV neonatal facilities in Georgia, recognizing its ability to provide comprehensive care for premature and critically ill newborns.
Level IV, the highest level of neonatal care, is reserved for facilities equipped to treat newborns with the most complex medical conditions. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these units, also known as regional NICUs, provide specialized care for infants with severe illnesses and birth defects.
For Dr. Brenda Poindexter, chief of neonatology at Children’s, the designation represents more than a recognition of the hospital’s medical capabilities. It also reflects the importance of ensuring Georgia families have access to advanced treatment when their newborns need it most.
“For our patient families, this means that they can access the most advanced neonatal treatments and lifesaving care closer to home, giving their newborns the best possible chance at a healthy future,” Poindexter said.
The designation follows a September evaluation by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Surveyors reviewed clinical benchmarks and patient cases, toured the neonatal intensive care unit and met with hospital staff and leadership.
The hospital met exemplary performance requirements established by the Maternal and Neonatal Levels of Care Designation Program, securing its Level IV status for another three years.
The recognition also marks a continuation of Children’s neonatal services following the opening of Arthur M. Blank Hospital in September 2024. The former Egleston Hospital transferred its Level IV verification to the new facility, which now serves newborns of all gestational ages with a wide range of medical and surgical needs.
Children’s Scottish Rite Hospital also holds Level IV verification, making the two Children’s facilities, half of Georgia’s four hospitals with the designation.
“As Georgia’s highest level of neonatal care, this designation underscores our ability to care for the most critically ill and medically complex newborns while delivering the best possible outcomes for children and families,” said Dr. Patrick Frias, president and CEO of Children’s.
The hospital system’s neonatal programs handle approximately 1,000 admissions annually, providing specialized care for premature infants and critically ill newborns. Children’s also offers surgical interventions and medical therapies that the organization says are unavailable elsewhere in Georgia.
Its neonatal services have received national recognition as well. U.S. News & World Report ranks Children’s #18 for neonatology.
The designation comes as Children’s continues investing in specialized pediatric services through its More Than Possible strategy, an initiative focused on advancing clinical programs, research and medical treatment.
“This accomplishment aligns directly with our More Than Possible strategy and our commitment to advancing the future of pediatric medicine by investing in nationally recognized clinical programs that set Children’s apart,” Frias said.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta operates three hospitals and more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs, serving patients across Georgia and beyond. The nonprofit health system manages more than 1 million patient visits annually.
For Georgia families facing the uncertainty of a premature birth or a newborn’s serious medical condition, the Level IV designation offers reassurance that some of the state’s most advanced neonatal care is available close to home.
