Indiana Dept. of Health names Northwest Health with Level III maternity and neonatal care

Northwest Health – Porter Receives Level III Obstetric Care and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care

Recertification from the Indiana State Department of Health

Valparaiso, IN – Northwest Health – Porter has been recertified as a Level III Obstetrical Service and a
Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by the Indiana State Department of Health. These
certifications recognize the hospital for providing quality care for complex maternal and fetal conditions
with attention to high-risk obstetric and newborn care.
“The advanced level of neonatal care and maternal services we provide ensures both mothers and
babies receive appropriate, quality care even in serious and complex situations,” said Stephanie Didion,
MSN, RN, director of the OB and neonatal services at Northwest Health - Porter. “We have a team of
OB/GYN physicians and neonatologists who are on site around the clock. I am proud of the working
relationship they have with both our medical staff and nursing staff. They are an amazing
team, providing high-level, personalized care for every mother and baby.”
The Level III NICU recognizes that Northwest Health provides comprehensive neonatal care for infants of
all gestational ages and weights, clinical experience as proven by large patient volume, supervision by
board-certified neonatologists, and newborn services such as life support, respiratory support and
advanced imaging.
The Level III Obstetrical Service designation is granted to hospitals that have OB-GYN and anesthesia
services present on-site, staff trained to handle severe maternal complications, an on-site Intensive Care
Unit, advanced imaging, and both surgical and anesthesia services.
Adding to these Level III services, Northwest Health – Porter launched a maternal-fetal transport service
earlier this year where high-risk pregnant patients are transferred via ambulance to the hospital to
provide quick, high-level medical management for the pregnant mother and her baby. This is the only
maternal transport service in the region and complements its well-established neonatal transport
service that transports sick or premature babies to its NICU from referring hospitals in the surrounding
area.
“Our hospital has long made maternal and neonatal services a priority for the patients of Northwest
Indiana and we’ve continually added capabilities such as our OB Emergency Room, maternal-fetal and

neonatal transport services,” said Didion. “The state’s recertification confirms that our efforts to
advance technology, expertise and quality outcomes on a daily basis are making a difference to the
communities we serve.”
In 2019, the Indiana State Department of Health established a program to certify the perinatal levels of
care available at birthing facilities across the state. These level-of-care designations for hospitals and
other facilities providing birthing services is part of an initiative to combat Indiana’s high infant and
maternal mortality rates. Under this program, hospitals are rated on the levels of obstetric and neonatal
care they provide so patients can be better informed about the quality of care they can expect.
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About Northwest Health
Northwest Health is a comprehensive healthcare system committed to providing communities in
Northwest Indiana with high-quality, accessible healthcare—from highly specialized care and surgical
services to more routine primary care. The system of more than 60 access points includes three
hospitals, five emergency departments, urgent care centers, outpatient surgery centers, an ambulance
service, and physician offices. A team of more than 3,000 employees work together with the more than
700 physicians on its medical staffs. Northwest Health is owned in part by physicians. For more
information, visit NWHealthIN.com.