The Editor's Choice paper of the ADC Fetal & Neonatal January edition explores the characteristics of successful neonatal intensive care units and is the topic of a broader discussion between Jonathan Davis, ADC Fetal & Neonatal Associate Editor, and Dr Joseph Kaempf, Women and Children’s Services, Department of Neonatology, Portland, USA.

Dr Kaempf is the corresponding author of the paper “Using a composite morbidity score and cultural survey to explore characteristics of high proficiency neonatal intensive care units” (https://fn.bmj.com/content/104/1/F13).

Read the related editorial as well, “The secret sauce: secrets of high performing neonatal intensive care units” (https://fn.bmj.com/content/104/1/F4).