Arthur M. Blank Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Receives Level IV Redesignation for the State’s Most Critically Ill Newborns
ATLANTA (Oct. 19, 2026)— Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was reverified as a Level IV Neonatal Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This three-year recognition distinguishes the Arthur M. Blank Hospital NICU for demonstrating the highest levels of quality care and collaboration across specialties to meet the needs and provide the most comprehensive care for premature and critically ill newborns. The former Egleston Hospital transferred its Level IV verification to the Arthur M. Blank Hospital NICU following its opening in September 2024.
There are four Level IV Neonatal Facilities in Georgia, including Children's Scottish Rite Hospital. The Arthur M. Blank Hospital NICU teams care for babies born at all gestational ages and with any medical or surgical need.
“I am so proud that the Arthur M. Blank Hospital NICU has once again been recognized by the Georgia DPH and the AAP for the advanced resources and highly specialized services that our clinical teams provide to the most critically ill and medically complex neonates in the state,” said Brenda Poindexter, MD, Chief of Neonatology at Children’s. “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.”
To achieve this designation, Children’s welcomed surveyors from the Georgia DPH in September to review benchmarks and multiple cases within the Arthur M. Blank Hospital NICU, tour the unit and meet with staff and clinical leadership. In all areas, the Arthur M. Blank Hospital NICU met exemplary performance requirements set by the Maternal and Neonatal Levels of Care Designation Program and was officially named a Level of Care IV Neonatal Center.
“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. “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. By continuing to strengthen our neonatal services, we are expanding what is possible for Georgia’s children today while building a healthier future for generations to come.”
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 20 hospitals for neonatology in the nation, the level IV NICUs at Children’s combine advanced technology and highly trained healthcare professionals to care for our tiniest patients. With approximately 1,000 neonatal admissions annually, Children’s provides comprehensive care for critically ill newborns and premature infants in a specialized environment and offers surgical interventions and medical therapies not available anywhere else in the state of Georgia.
Media Contact: Allyson Wright
allyson.wright2@choa.org
404-785-7253
About Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
As the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in Georgia, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is the trusted leader in caring for kids. The not-for-profit organization’s mission is to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow through more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs, top healthcare professionals, and leading research and technology. Children’s is one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country, managing more than one million patient visits annually at three hospitals (Arthur M. Blank Hospital, Hughes Spalding Hospital and Scottish Rite Hospital), Marcus Autism Center, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, the Zalik Behavioral and Mental Health Center, urgent care centers and neighborhood locations. Consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has impacted the lives of kids in Georgia, across the United States and around the world for more than 100 years thanks to generous support from the community.