Aspirus St. Luke’s Level II NICU Earns New National Designation

Aspirus St. Luke’s (ASL) is honored to be the first hospital in the United States to earn a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) designation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).   

The AAP implemented national NICU designation guidelines in 2023 to standardize personnel, equipment and services across NICUs nationwide. A Level II NICU designation confirms that a hospital has the specialized staff and equipment required to care for infants born as young as 32 weeks or more and weighing as little as 3.3 pounds at birth. These newborns may experience challenges like breathing difficulties, feeding problems, low blood sugar, and an inability to maintain body temperature, requiring close monitoring and expert care. 

“Our team is extremely dedicated to serving the women and families in our communities,” said Aspirus Health Women’s, Children’s and Genetics System Service Line Administrator Lori Swanson. “We strive to give our patients the best in everything we do. This incredible achievement is a testament to that commitment.”  

The Level II designation affirms ASL’s ability to safely care for: 

• Moderately ill or late-preterm infants 

• Babies requiring short-term respiratory support 

• Infants needing ongoing monitoring and specialized nursing care 

“We care for the smallest babies and do everything we can to protect those precious lives so their parents can bring them home,” said ASL Pediatric Hospitalist Dr. Jordan Blessing. “Earning this distinction truly validates our dedication to patient safety and continuous quality improvement.” 

Achieving AAP recognition required a rigorous review process that included a two-day, on-site survey by experts from Level IV AAP-designated NICUs. The survey team reported zero clinical care findings—an exceptional outcome that underscores ASL’s commitment to excellence. To learn more about the AAP’s NICU designations and standards, click here.