SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is now one of only two hospitals in the nation to receive NICU verification through the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). View the announcement released on March 12, 2025, recognizing both the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital as the first two hospitals in the nation to receive designation through the new Neonatal Excellence Program.
The program recognizes hospitals which meet the highest standards of neonatal care. The AAP explains that “through comprehensive and consultative onsite surveys, hospitals can enhance their quality of care by demonstrating a sustained commitment to patient safety and quality improvement initiatives, driving better outcomes, optimizing clinical practices, and assuring adherence to evidence-based neonatal care standards.”
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital President and System Vice President of Pediatric Services, Hossain Marandi, MD, MBA, FACHE, spoke to this achievement, stating:
The verification process provided an invaluable opportunity for our hospital’s clinical and administrative teams to engage with national surveyors, highlighting our commitment to excellence in all aspects of patient care. This collaborative evaluation affirmed our dedication to patient safety and a culture of continuous improvement. The surveyors recognized several areas of outstanding performance and also identified some opportunities for us to achieve even greater outcomes. We remain steadfast in our commitment to leveraging these insights to further enhance the care we provide to the children in our community.
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is designated as a Level IV NICU, indicating the highest standard of neonatal care. Cardinal Glennon consistently ranks among US News & World Report’s top Children’s Hospitals. In 2025, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital’s neonatology program ranked among the top 50 in the nation. This recognition further exemplifies SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital’s dedication to providing the highest standard of care for children and their families.
