University Health again earns Texas' highest designation for newborn critical care
The Texas Department of State Health Services has again redesignated the University Health Women’s & Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a Level IV NICU, signifying its unique ability to provide the highest level of care for newborns who need specialized medical attention. This is the fourth time the NICU has earned this three-year designation, placing it among an elite group of centers meeting the most rigorous standards.
“Consistently achieving the highest level for neonatal intensive care reflects an effective program that involves responsive clinical and administrative staff and leadership,” said Irene Sandate, chief nursing officer for the Women’s & Children's Hospital.
“The designation validates our commitment to provide safe, timely, effective and family-centered care to a highly vulnerable population. The responsibility is substantial, so this demonstrates to families and the public that quality of care and patient safety is our organization’s highest priority,” Sandate said.
Advanced infant services, specialists and technology
Just 24 of the 223 neonatal facilities in Texas have achieved Level IV status by demonstrating the ability to provide expert care for babies born prematurely or with complex and life-threatening conditions. Babies have access to advanced surgical services, a full range of pediatric subspecialists and life-support technology for responding to infants with severe heart or lung failure. The NICU also supports research, education and quality improvement in neonatal care.
“Knowing that a hospital is a Level IV NICU provides families with confidence that if serious complications arise during pregnancy or after birth, their baby will have access to specialized care without needing to be transferred elsewhere,” said Rachel Rivas, director of the NICU for 15 years.
Excellence that is nationally recognized
In announcing the Level IV redesignation, the state’s survey team wrote: “The interdisciplinary team works collaboratively to attain a standard of excellence that is nationally recognized.”
Among “outstanding practices” they cited are leadership certifications that demonstrate a commitment to patient safety, expanded social service support for families and a facility design that provides “high-level, family-centered care.”
Family-centered care reaching more children
Rivas says caring for the family as well as the infant was a primary goal in planning the state-of-the-art NICU that opened in December 2023 as part of the new Women’s & Children’s Hospital. The comfortable, private rooms with natural light have pull-out beds that allow parents to spend the night with their babies. They can check on their children from home through a secure camera system.
“This is the first redesignation since we moved to the new NICU and hospital,” said Rivas. “Having a design where we can support the family as well as the baby is taking our care to the next level.”
Rivas said the Women’s & Children’s Hospital NICU has maintained high standards and enhanced its exceptional care during a period of rapid growth. From 2023 through 2025, the number of babies cared for by the team has nearly doubled, from 905 to 1,715.
“I am beyond proud of our staff and team,” said Rivas. “We moved to this new hospital, and we have never skipped a beat.”
