Houston, Texas - HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest has been designated as a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Only 61 hospitals in the state of Texas currently hold the coveted Level III NICU designation, which recognizes a hospital's expertise in providing comprehensive care for mothers and their infants at all gestational ages, with mild to critical illnesses.
As a designated Level III NICU, HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest's acute services for infants include life support, advanced imaging such as MRI and echocardiography, a full range of respiratory support and other services. The hospital's NICU team is also able to facilitate transports to Level IV NICUs if an even higher level of care is needed. In addition to treating mothers and newborns at the hospital, the department is dedicated to providing neonatal and maternal education to the community.
"While no mother expects their baby to need NICU services, one in eight births require a higher level of care," said Sharon Ikeler, chief nursing officer at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest. "We are proud to provide that higher level of care for babies and mothers in our community. The comprehensive Level III NICU and maternal services we provide keeps mothers and babies together while they receive care."
"We are extremely excited about the opportunity to provide care for the most vulnerable patients as a Level III designated NICU," said Craig Steiner, M.D., NICU medical director at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest. "This will allow us to expand our potential and further deliver care here at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, with minimal need for patient transfers."