These Are The 10 Best Hospitals For Pediatric Care This Year

Parents will do whatever it takes to keep their children safe, happy and healthy. Unfortunately, all the parenting classes in the world cannot prepare you for having a child with a serious injury or debilitating disease.

That’s why U.S. News and World Report continues to release its rankings of the top children’s hospitals in the U.S. every year. The report helps parents figure out which hospitals or facilities are best suited to treat their very sick little ones, and hopefully erase some of the fear.

The report, in its 12th year, looked at 189 total facilities that are either freestanding children’s hospitals or large pediatric departments within a hospital.

The rankings are based on four main factors:

• Clinical outcomes, which includes survival rates, infection rates and complications.
• Hospital resources, such as staffing, technology and special services.
• Delivery of healthcare, which considers adherence to best practices and infection-prevention programs.
• Expert opinions from pediatric specialists.

In the end, 86 of the 189 hospitals surveyed were ranked in the top 50 for at least one specialty. But these 10 hospitals came out on top, earning a spot on the 2018-2019 Honor Roll:

1. Boston Children’s Hospital

Boston Children’s Hospital has been voted No. 1 for the fifth straight year. The hospital received a trio of perfect scores in orthopedics, nephrology and neurosurgery. It also earned high marks for cardiology, diabetes and gastroenterology.

The hospital proudly tweeted about “this exciting accomplishment”:

2. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

The children’s hospital in Cincinnati climbed into the No. 2 spot this year, after spending the past seven consecutive years as third in the nation. Children’s was also ranked No. 1 for pediatric cancer and gastroenterology/GI surgery.

3. Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia

With Cincinnati moving up one spot, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia fell just one spot on the list, to No. 3. The hospital, also known as CHOP, recently announced a major expansion plan, including a pediatric intensive care unit.

4. Texas Children’s Hospital

The Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston remains the top-rated facility for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery. Year to year, the hospital stayed put at No. 4 on the list.

On top of the report, this hospital may have won the prize for cutest fan:

5. Children’s National Medical Center

Children’s National based in Washington, D.C., was most improved this year, moving up five spots. It cracked into the top 10 just last year. Children’s National is also the top-rated facility for neonatology.

Patients and staff members were very excited to officially be in the top five:

6. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is in the middle of the top 10, but it’s the top pediatric hospital in the western U.S., based on the new report.

7. Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Nationwide Children’s was once again ranked at No. 7. The Columbus, Ohio-based hospital ranked in all of the 10 specialties surveyed by U.S. News and World Report.

8. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center

Despite dropping from fifth place, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center remains among the best in the nation. The center is the only hospital integrated with an adult facility to make the Honor Roll.

9. Children’s Hospital Colorado

A big welcome to Children’s Colorado. It is the only top hospital of 2018 that wasn’t on the list in 2017. The hospital runs 16 locations in Colorado, with more than 3,400 pediatric experts on staff.

10. Ann And Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Of Chicago

Lurie Children’s has been ranked nationally as a top pediatric hospital for seven straight years. It’s the only Illinois hospital in the top 10.

Did your local hospital make the list?