As Northern Virginia’s only pediatric tertiary care center, we provide the highest level of care for our young patients. More than 400 board-certified pediatricians, family practice physicians and pediatric specialists provide care in the hospital’s technologically advanced, yet child-friendly environment.
Among the Best in the Nation for Neonatology
Inova L.J. Murphy Children's
Hospital has been named one of the Top 50 Hospitals in the United States for neonatology care by U.S. News and World Report.
The U.S. News team generates annual hospital rankings by evaluating data on nearly 5,000 hospitals. Being nationally ranked in a specialty means that a hospital must excel in caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients.
Excellence in Pediatric Care
American College of Surgeons NSQIP Pediatric
American College of Surgeons NSQIP Pediatric
NSQIP Pediatric is the first and only international database measuring performance outcomes across multiple specialties of children’s surgery. The program provides efficient and equitable care and shortens time in the hospital. This allows hospitals to track their performance with the most accurate data available, compare with other leading hospitals, and achieve the highest quality of care for children undergoing surgical operations.
Excellence in Surgical Care
American College of Surgeons Children's Surgery Verification (CSV)
Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital is a Level 1 Verified Children's Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program (ACS CSV). The CSV program ensures that every verified hospital meets needs of pediatric patients. This specialized care provides improved outcomes, improved safety protocols, and a standardized quality of care across the many crucial facets of children’s surgery. The Children’s programs are seen nationwide as having improved the quality and outcomes in children undergoing surgery.
Level I centers have specialty trained children's surgeons in every discipline, with pediatric anesthesiologists and dedicated operating rooms for children available 24 hours a day. They also train future leaders in education and research and participate in community outreach. Learn more 
Joint Commission Certification: Prematurity and NICU Care
In 2011, Inova Fairfax Hospital received the first ever certification from The Joint Commission for prematurity and NICU care at Inova's children's hospital. The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval™ validates that the care premature babies receive in our neonatal intensive care unit not only meets, but exceeds the national standards. Learn more 
An "A" for Patient Safety
Inova Fairfax Hospital received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for Fall 2024, marking 13 straight “A’s" since 2018.
The Leapfrog Group is a national organization committed to improving the healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. It is peer reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
This designation recognizes our efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States.
One of the Nation’s 25 Best Pediatric Hospitals
Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital has been named one of the country’s 25 Best Hospitals for Pediatrics by The Leapfrog Group and Money. This prestigious ranking identifies organizations that meet a high level of safety, staffing and quality criteria. The designation recognizes Inova's commitment to raising pediatric care across the region and providing families with seamless access to high-quality services and specialties that support the whole child at every age and stage.
ChildKind Certification
Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital has achieved certification from ChildKind International, a global organization dedicated to improving the quality of pediatric pain care around the world.
The designation recognizes healthcare facilities that have implemented standardized, institution-wide, collaborative approaches to the prevention and treatment of children’s pain. Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital is the first and only hospital in the Mid-Atlantic area to achieve ChildKind certification.
Inova Hospitals Earn Silver Level Safe Sleep Certification
Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Inova Loudoun Hospital were recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as Silver level for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a national infant safe sleep organization. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Cribs for Kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to SUID and accidental suffocation. As Nationally Certified Safe Sleep Hospitals, the Inova hospitals are recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and providing training programs for healthcare team members, and family caregivers. "Sleep-Related Death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.," said Michael H. Goodstein, MD, neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids®. "We know that modeling safe infant sleep in the hospital and providing education to families has a significant effect on infant mortality. Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is designed to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths."