U.S. News & World Report names Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital among top 40 Best Children’s Hospitals in the nation for Neonatology

Fairfax, VA – Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital has been recognized among the top 40 Best Children’s Hospitals in the country for Neonatology by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings assist parents and caregivers, along with their physicians, in navigating the challenges of finding the best possible care for children with serious illnesses or complex medical needs. Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital ranked #37 in the U.S. for neonatology. Inova Children’s was also recognized as a regional Best Children’s Hospital, ranking #3 in Virginia and #16 (tied) in the Mid-Atlantic.

Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital is home to the largest, most comprehensive subspecialty neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the region. The 108-bed, Level IV NICU cares for high-risk infants requiring specialized care and observation. Within the NICU is the region’s only Small Baby Unit, a subspecialized unit for Very Low Birth Weight Infants. This unit holds 15 dedicated rooms and provides babies born before 29 weeks or weighing less than 1500 grams with specialized medical care.

“We are honored that our NICU has once again been recognized among the top 40 in the nation,” said Steve Narang, MD, President, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus and Inova Children’s. “This achievement reflects the extraordinary skill and compassion of our neonatal team, who provide lifesaving care for our region’s most fragile newborns every day. As Northern Virginia’s only Level IV NICU, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing pediatric care, investing in innovation and supporting every family with the highest level of expertise and compassion.”

For the 2025-2026 rankings, U.S. News, together with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed data from 118 children’s hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. Children’s hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, compliance with established best practices, and level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care.

“Being a top-ranked pediatric hospital means more than just excelling in a single specialty — it means being a pillar of outstanding care for your entire region,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “Our rankings acknowledge these hospitals for their comprehensive excellence, helping families find the very best care conveniently located within their state and community.”

The full rankings for the 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals national, regional/state and specialty rankings can be found at USNews.com. For more information, explore #BestChildrensHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and X.

About Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital

Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital is an award-winning, full-service children’s hospital that offers the highest level of dedicated pediatric care in Northern Virginia.

Our comprehensive medical services are geared toward the unique treatment of infants, children and adolescents, and support for their families. And, as a children’s hospital on the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, we are able to care for our patients from the time they are born through adulthood.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.