Children's ranked among top 30 pediatric hospitals

Only hospital in North Texas and one of only two in Texas to make prestigious list

Children's Medical Center has again been named one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country, according to U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Children's Hospitals" issue, which named Children's to the top 30 of more than 250 children's hospitals in the U.S.

Children's was ranked 25th overall of the 143 children's hospitals in the U.S. that were eligible for the honor. It is the only hospital in Dallas, and one of only two pediatric hospitals in Texas, to be included in the overall rankings.

In an extension of the 2007 pediatric rankings that listed the top 30 pediatric centers overall, the 2008 America's Best Children's Hospitals now includes the 30-top ranked pediatric hospitals in cancer, digestive disorders, heart and heart surgery, neonatal care, neurology and neurosurgery, respiratory disorders, and general pediatrics.

Children's ranked in several specialty areas, including:

• Cancer – 15th
• Digestive Disorders – 26th
• Heart and Heart Surgery – 22nd
• Neurology and Neurosurgery – 23rd

The specialty rankings of this year's America's Best Children's Hospitals were based on a new and improved methodology that weighed a three-part blend of reputation, outcome, and care-related measures such as nursing care, advanced technology, credentialing, and other factors.

"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 inception. "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."

Children's Medical Center Dallas is private, not-for-profit, and is one of the largest pediatric healthcare providers in the nation. As the only academic healthcare facility in North Texas dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive care of children from birth to age 18, Children's provides patient care ranging from simple eye exams to specialized treatment in areas such as heart disease, hematology-oncology and cystic fibrosis. In addition, Children's is a major pediatric kidney, liver, intestine, heart and bone marrow transplant center. As the primary pediatric teaching facility for The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, the medical staff at Children's conducts research that is instrumental in developing treatments, therapies, and greater understanding of pediatric diseases.

Children's is licensed for 411 beds and has more than 50 subspecialty programs. The hospital is the only designated Level I trauma center for pediatrics in the Southwest. To better serve the regions growing pediatric population, Children's Medical Center Legacy will open in 2008 in Plano, Texas.

Children's enjoys a stellar reputation as one of the finest pediatric facilities in the U.S. The Joint Commission awarded Children's an overall outstanding ranking, and both U.S. News & World Report and Child magazine have named Children's as one of the nations top pediatric hospitals.

Tags: award, top 30, U.S.News, World Report