Impact

Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital again ranked as one of nation's best

Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital has been ranked in five specialties in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013-14 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.

Front of Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, on the campus of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The colorful metal sculpture was created by New York artist Albert Paley. Credit: Darrell Peterson, Penn State Hershey. All Rights Reserved.

Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital has been ranked in five specialties in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013-14 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.

Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital ranked in cancer, urology, orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery, and cardiology and heart surgery -- two more specialties than last year. Children’s Hospital first made the Best Children’s Hospitals list in 2008. The new Best Children’s Hospitals list is the first to be released since Penn State Hershey opened its new 263,000-square-foot Children’s Hospital building in February.

The rankings highlight the top 50 U.S. hospitals in each of these pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology. Eighty-seven hospitals across the country ranked in one or more specialties.

“Ranking shows the dedication and expertise that Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital brings to the care of children who need those qualities the most,” said Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. “We think it is important to identify and call attention to pediatric centers like this one.”

U.S. News introduced the Best Children’s Hospitals rankings in 2007 to help families of sick children find the best medical care available. The rankings offer families an exclusive look at quality-related information at the individual hospital level.

“We are honored that Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital has been recognized as one of the nation’s best in multiple specialties for a third year in a row,” said Dr. Harold L. Paz, CEO of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Hershey Health System; Penn State’s senior vice president for health affairs; and dean, Penn State College of Medicine. “Each of these programs is driven by world class physicians, nurses, clinical specialists, technicians, researchers, administrators, and support staff who consistently provide leading-edge treatment, outstanding care and great compassion to our patients and families. This recognition by U.S. News & World Report is a validation of their excellent work and dedication.”

Each hospital’s reputation among doctors was only a small part of what U.S. News factored into its rankings. Three-quarters of each hospital’s score was determined through an analysis of patient outcomes and data on the structural resources each hospital has for pediatric care. To gather data, U.S. News used two surveys: a clinical questionnaire sent to 179 pediatric hospitals and, for the reputational assessment, a survey of 150 pediatric specialists and subspecialists in each specialty. The 1,500 physicians were asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty, setting aside location and expense.

“This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our highly skilled and caring faculty and staff who put patients first every day, and who are committed to providing nothing less than the best care for children,” said Dr. Craig Hillemeier, medical director, Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

Children’s Hospital ranked 35th in cancer, urology, and neurology and neurosurgery, 39th in orthopedics, and 44th in cardiology and heart surgery. The full rankings and methodology are available at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

A video of thanks and congratulations to Penn State Hershey faculty and staff, students, friends and supporters is available on the Penn State Hershey YouTube channel.

Last Updated June 19, 2013

Contact