Perinatal Regionalization

Perinatal regionalization, or risk-appropriate care, refers to matching moms and babies to a delivering hospital that can provide the correct level of care, based on their health risks. In Alabama, hospitals report the level of nursery care that they provide. For a list of the delivering hospitals and their levels, visit Hospital Neonatal Levels. For more information about neonatal levels of care, visit Neonatal Levels.

The state of Alabama is divided into five perinatal regions, each with a hospital designated as a Perinatal Regional Center. These Level III or Level IV NICUs accept transfers from their referral region and often can assist with transfer transportation. See also: Perinatal Regions Map.

Perinatal Regional Centers

Huntsville Women’s and Children’s, Huntsville (Level III)
DCH Regional Medical Center, Tuscaloosa (Level III)
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Level IV)
USA Women’s and Children’s, Mobile (Level III)
Baptist Medical Center South, Montgomery (Level III)

Maternal Levels of Care

Maternal Levels of Care have not been implemented in Alabama, but here is a description of the levels developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists along with the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Here is a one-page summary of the maternal levels developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.