This December, we chose Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital as our NICU of the month. Located in Virginia, Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital has the largest, most comprehensive subspecialty neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the region. It is the first NICU in the United States to receive The Gold Seal of Approval™ for Prematurity, which represents the highest level of care of premature birth patients, and was nominated by several members of the Kyte community for its outstanding care of the most fragile of newborns.
Why Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital
Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital is ranked among the best in the nation in neonatology, and its 108-bed, Level IV NICU cares for high-risk infants requiring specialized care and observation. This NICU has the region’s only Small Baby Unit, which is a subspecialized unit for babies born before 29 weeks or with a very low birth weight—less than 1000 grams. As the only Level IV NICU in Northern Virginia, Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital can transport, by air or ground, any infant born within a 200-mile radius who requires services from the NICU.
The hospital offers very specialized care that includes neonatal whole-body cooling, as well as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Newborns who experience hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) at birth from reduced levels of oxygen or blood flow can be treated at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital with therapeutic hypothermia, or whole body cooling, to protect their brains, and reduce death and disability. To support the complex needs of newborns dealing with cardiac failure or respiratory failure, the hospital has expanded its ECMO program to include newborns outside of the congenital heart program. These babies can receive cardiopulmonary bypass to provide temporary support of the lungs, heart, and other organs.
Since 2016, the NICU staff at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital has saved the lives of countless newborns. With over 20 neonatologists, 10 neonatal nurse practitioners, hundreds of highly trained nurses, and allied health professionals and technicians, the hospital’s team is able to handle highly complex cases and deliver outstanding care. As a nonprofit children’s hospital, it relies on community support to provide world-class care to these fragile newborns and their families.
Nominate a NICU with Kyte Baby
Thanks to the nominations submitted through our “Nominate a NICU” page, we were able to make a donation from a portion of our proceeds to Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital to support its incredible work.
“This is an amazing hospital that services a large area of need. They have a specialized small baby unit in their 108 bed NICU. This Level IV NICU’s patients and families are so deserving of this nomination.”
-Megan H.
“I have been a NICU nurse for over 6 years. We are the biggest NICU in the Northern VA/DC area, and our census has been extremely high with very sick babies. There are many supplies we could use that would be very helpful.”
-Keara H.
The Kyte Cares “Nominate a NICU” program allows us to give back to our communities and help the most vulnerable of babies. Every month, we donate to a NICU that is chosen from your nominations. If you would like to share your story and nominate a NICU, please fill out this form here.
If you would like to support Inova L.J. Murphy with a financial contribution of your own, you may visit their donation page.
