In 2021, the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH) worked in collaboration with expert advisors from across Ontario to strengthen existing levels of care accountabilities for newborn level 1 and all labour and delivery units. The definitions and criteria for each level of care were revised to reflect updated practices and to provide guidance for the scope of services, admission criteria, and accountabilities of hospitals to ensure that all pregnant individuals and newborns in Ontario receive high quality care at the appropriate level.
Currently, Ontario has 93 hospitals that provide perinatal, birthing and newborn services. Of these, 51 hospitals have Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Working in partnership with regional and local health organizations, hospitals work to deliver services that fall within a standardized set of definitions and criteria.
Read the Perinatal, Birthing and Newborn Levels of Care Guidance Document
Read the Perinatal, Birthing and Newborn Levels of Care Designation by Hospital and Ontario Health Region
Please note: In 2021, Critical Care Services Ontario (CCSO) updated definitions and criteria related to NICU Levels 2 & 3. Please visit CCSO’s website to access the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Levels of Care Guidance Document.