Hoag Expands Level III NICU in Newport Beach to Strengthen Specialized Newborn Care

• Expanded NICU increases capacity from 21 to 33 beds, including 11 new private rooms and dedicated accommodations for twins

• Family-centered features include overnight accommodations and technology connecting parents and loved ones to their babies from anywhere in the world

• Expansion builds on the opening of the Level III NICU at the Hoag Hospital Irvine Sun Family Campus

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2026) — Hoag has expanded its Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at its Newport Beach campus, increasing capacity to care for newborns who need additional medical support during their earliest days and weeks of life. The expansion strengthens Hoag’s ability to provide specialized newborn care within a maternity program that welcomes more than 9,000 babies annually across its Newport Beach and Irvine campuses.

The expansion adds 12 beds across 11 new private rooms, including a dedicated room with two beds for twins, increasing the unit’s capacity from 21 to 33 beds. The additional space provides greater flexibility to care for newborns with different medical and developmental needs.

“Some babies need only a short period of additional support as they adjust to life outside the womb, while others require more specialized care over weeks or months. Our goal is to provide the right level of care for every baby while keeping parents close, supporting bonding, and making families active partners in their baby’s care,” said Allyson Brooks, M.D., Ginny Ueberroth Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair, Hoag Women’s Health Institute.

Hoag’s Level III NICU brings together a multidisciplinary team that includes neonatal nurses, neonatologists, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, Care Managers, lactation consultants and pharmacists. Two board-certified neonatologists from Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) are physically present in the unit 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also attend high-risk deliveries to assess newborns immediately, provide interventions when needed, and coordinate transfer to the NICU, located one floor above Labor and Delivery. This integrated approach supports timely assessment and specialized care for the first moments of life.

Expanded capacity and family-centered care

The Newport Beach expansion includes:

• 33 NICU beds, up from 21, increasing capacity to care for newborns who need specialized support.

• 11 new private rooms, including 10 individual rooms and one room with two beds for twins.

• Three nurse stations to support close monitoring and access to care.

• Overnight accommodations for parents, including sleeper chairs and sofas, allowing families to remain near their babies.

• AngelEye camera technology, providing secure, live video access to babies for parents and, with parental invitation, family and friends around the world.

• An expanded milk lab to support the preparation and storage of infant feeding supplies.

• A multipurpose respite room, offering parents and visitors a place to rest close to their baby.

The unit’s healing environment is designed to support newborns’ development and recovery while recognizing the important role parents play in their baby’s well-being. Private rooms offer families greater space and privacy, while overnight accommodations make it easier for parents to remain close and participate in daily care. Natural light and calming surroundings help create a restorative setting for babies, families and the clinicians caring for them.

Technology also helps families stay connected when they cannot be at the bedside. Through the AngelEye system, parents can securely view their baby from a phone, tablet or computer and invite family members and friends, including those living internationally, to view the live stream. The platform also supports secure text, photo and video updates from the care team and offers translation into more than 75 languages.

“Our care team is at the heart of everything we do. This expansion gives our clinicians additional space and resources to care for newborns with a wide range of needs, while creating an environment that supports healing, development and family connection,” Dr. Brooks said. “When babies need extra support at the beginning of life, the care they receive and the ability of their families to remain close can make a meaningful difference in their experience.”

Strengthening newborn care across Hoag

With more than 9,000 births annually across its two campuses, Hoag must be prepared to care for newborns with a wide range of medical needs while responding to fluctuations in demand. Expanded NICU capacity provides additional room and flexibility for newborns who require specialized monitoring, treatment or developmental support, helping Hoag care for more babies close to their families.

The Newport Beach expansion builds on the recent opening of the Level III NICU at Hoag Hospital Irvine’s Sun Family Campus. Together, the two NICUs strengthen Hoag’s capacity to provide specialized newborn care across its maternity program, supporting families from birth through the earliest stages of their babies’ lives.

Learn more about Hoag's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.