What Level NICU are you at?
Featured Replies
This topic is now closed to further replies.
Currently Reading 0
- No registered users viewing this page.
A better way to browse. Learn more.
A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.
I have seen in the threads lately frequent use of the term Level 4 or LEvel IV NICU and I am confused about it's use. I have been told over the past few years that Level IV is no longer a recognized distinction. Is this state specific? I found an article in the AAP from a few years ago that speaks to about 9 states that still used Level IV as a name type.
However, that same article was regarding the reccs about change in policy to move the NICU level names to I, II, IIIa, IIIb, and IIIc.
Here's a snippet of it:
RECOMMENDATIONS
Regionalized systems of perinatal care are recommended to ensure that each newborn infant is delivered and cared for in a facility appropriate for his or her health care needs and to facilitate the achievement of optimal outcomes.
Level IIIA units can provide care for infants with birth weight of more than 1000 g and gestational age of more than 28 weeks. Continuous life support can be provided but is limited to conventional mechanical ventilation.
Level IIIB units can provide comprehensive care for extremely low birth weight infants (1000 g birth weight or less and 28 or less weeks' gestation); advanced respiratory care such as high-frequency ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide; prompt and on-site access to a full range of pediatric medical subspecialists; and advanced imaging with interpretation on an urgent basis, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography and have pediatric surgical specialists and pediatric anesthesiologists on site or at a closely related institution to perform major surgery. Level IIIC units have the capabilities of a level IIIB NICU and are located within institutions that can provide ECMO and surgical repair of serious congenital cardiac malformations that require cardiopulmonary bypass.
------------------------------