World-Class Neonatal Care with a Family-Centered Focus
Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, part of the UT Southwestern pediatric network, is one of the most highly regarded pediatric hospitals in the country. Located in the heart of Dallas, this hospital is home to a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)—the highest possible designation. As a regional hub for neonatal care, it receives transfers from community hospitals throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and even surrounding states.
Advanced Neonatal Services at Children’s Health Dallas NICU
The Level IV NICU at Children’s Medical Center is equipped to handle the most complex and critical neonatal conditions. These include—but are not limited to—extreme prematurity, birth-related brain injuries, congenital heart defects, metabolic disorders, respiratory failure, and neonatal seizures.
In partnership with UT Southwestern, this NICU provides access to groundbreaking clinical research and some of the top neonatologists and pediatric specialists in the country. Each infant’s care is managed by a multidisciplinary team that may include neonatologists, neurologists, cardiologists, surgeons, respiratory therapists, social workers, and lactation consultants—all working in unison.
Rural Hospitals That Transfer to Children’s NICU
Children’s Medical Center of Dallas serves as a referral center for a wide range of smaller hospitals across Texas, including:
Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville
Paris Regional Health
Navarro Regional in Corsicana
United Regional in Wichita Falls
Various facilities in West Texas, the Texas Panhandle, and southeastern Oklahoma
These rural hospitals often do not have high-level NICU capabilities. When complications arise, newborns are stabilized and transferred to Children’s via dedicated neonatal transport teams—often within hours of birth.
What Parents Can Expect in the NICU at Children’s Health
Families arriving at Children’s NICU often feel overwhelmed—but the hospital’s systems are designed to provide support from day one. The unit offers:
24/7 visitation and overnight stay options for parents
Family-centered rounding, allowing caregivers to participate in treatment discussions
Kangaroo care opportunities and neonatal bonding programs
Onsite Ronald McDonald House accommodations
Emotional and psychological support for parents and siblings
Children’s Health emphasizes transparency and education. Parents are never treated as passive observers, but rather as crucial members of their baby’s care team.
Specialized Services That Set Children’s Apart
This hospital is especially well-regarded for its:
Neonatal Neurology Program, which includes cutting-edge brain monitoring for conditions like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
Fetal and Neonatal Cardiology, treating complex congenital heart disease from diagnosis through surgery
Family Resource Center, offering comprehensive education and support services for NICU families
Children’s Medical Center also plays a key role in training future pediatric specialists through its partnership with UT Southwestern, helping to ensure continuity and innovation in neonatal care.
When You Have Questions About What Happened
Most families who come through the NICU will go home with their baby after a difficult but successful recovery. But some don’t. And some—despite doing everything right—are left with more questions than answers about what went wrong.
If your child experienced a life-altering injury—such as brain damage, cerebral palsy, or another condition that you suspect may be linked to a delay or failure in medical care—you are not alone. At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we help families navigate these painful questions. We offer confidential consultations, with no obligation, to help you understand your rights and options.
Because every baby’s story deserves to be heard—and every family deserves answers they can trust.
