Children's Health℠ Expands Level IV NICU at Children's Medical Center Dallas
Children's Health has announced the expansion of its Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's Medical Center Dallas, increasing its capacity by 15 percent, from 52 to 60 beds. This expansion has been designed to better support medically complex newborns and their families.
The added capacity comes in response to significant population growth in North Texas, leading to increased demand for advanced neonatal care. With this expansion, more families will have access to 24/7 neonatal expertise, advanced technologies, and a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, and surgery experts.
Sushmita Yallapragada, M.D., a pediatric neonatologist at Children's Health, highlighted the importance of timely access to neonatal care, stating, "When a newborn needs lifesaving medical care, every second matters. Families deserve access to the highest level of neonatal care when they need it most." She emphasized the facility's designation as a Level IV NICU, the highest level of neonatal care recognized, as a significant asset in meeting the region's growing needs.
The expansion is part of Children's Health's long-term vision for its new $5 billion pediatric campus, which will further enhance NICU capacity to 96 beds when the new Moody Children's Hospital opens in 2031. The campus will feature over 4.9 million square feet and include a direct skybridge connection to William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital at UT Southwestern Medical Center, improving care continuity for mothers and their newborns.
As the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, Children's Health serves more than 370,000 patients annually and employs over 11,000 team members. The organization has consistently received recognition among the nation's best pediatric hospitals and has been awarded Magnet® designation for nursing excellence. It has also achieved various employer-of-choice accolades and was named one of the 150 Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Hospital Review for 14 consecutive years.