Children’s Memorial Hospital ranked among U.S.News & World Report's 2008 top pediatric hospitals
Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago has been named one of the top 30 Best Children’s Hospitals in all seven specialty areas ranked in U.S.News & World Report’s 2008 edition of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals,” published online here and in the magazine’s June 9 issue, on newsstands Monday, June 2. Of the 143 eligible children’s hospitals, 113 responded.
The list, called the “honor roll” in the U.S. News rankings of adult hospitals, in 2008 ranked the 30 top hospitals in cancer, digestive disorders, heart and heart surgery, neonatal care, neurology and neurosurgery, respiratory disorders, and general pediatrics. This year, Children's Memorial is the only pediatric hospital in Illinois, and one of only 17 “honor roll” hospitals in the nation, to rank in each of the seven specialties. University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital ranked among the top 30 in neonatal care.
“Children's Memorial is pleased to be recognized among the premier pediatric hospitals in the nation,” said Patrick M. Magoon, President and CEO. “We are very proud to have scored particularly well on care-related measures assessed for each specialty.” These include nurse staffing, nurse magnet status, cardiovascular services, clinical support services, availability of advanced technologies, multidisciplinary programs, and patient and family services.
The specialty rankings of this year’s “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” were based on a new methodology that encompassed reputation (50 or 60 percent, depending on the specialty), care-related measures (40 percent), and outcome (10 percent, where available). The reputation score was based on a survey mailed to 200 general pediatricians and 150 pediatricians for each of the specialties. Physicians were asked to name up to five centers in their specialty. Just over half responded. Find a detailed description of the methodology here.
“Very sick kids need very special care,” said Senior Writer Avery Comarow, who has been editor of the America’s Best Hospitals and “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” annual rankings since their inceptions. “The best places for them are pediatric facilities with a deep pool of expertise in their particular illness. Breaking out key specialties is crucial to help parents and other caregivers find these facilities.”
The survey was constructed by RTI International, which collects the data and oversees the methodology behind the adult Best Hospitals rankings.
The largest pediatric hospital in Illinois, Children's Memorial provides specialists in every known pediatric specialty. As the pediatric educational facility for Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, these physicians saw more than 102,000 children last year. The American Nurses Association has recognized Children's Memorial as the first hospital in the state – and the first pediatric hospital in the nation – to receive its prestigious Nursing Excellence Magnet Award.
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Contact: Chris James at 773.880.4500