One of the Best of the Best

Washington, D.C. – June 11, 2013 – As a recognition of preeminence in caring for children and expectant mothers, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, an academic medical institution of Stanford University School of Medicine, has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the top children’s hospital in Northern California and one of America’s best.

Released online June 11, the U.S. News & World Report 2013-14 Best Children’s Hospitals survey has honored Packard Children’s with three pediatric specialties in America’s top 10, six specialties in the top 15, and nine specialties in the top 40. Additionally, Packard Children’s received best on the West Coast, best in California, and best in Northern California honors for several of its programs.

Christopher G. Dawes, president and chief executive officer at Packard Children’s, said he was proud of the recognition. “Ranking highly on the U.S. News list is a wonderful distinction,” said Dawes, “and it confirms our reputation as one of the preeminent freestanding children’s hospitals in America. It also speaks highly of the world-leading science and research of our Stanford School of Medicine, and the care and dedication of our doctors, nurses and staff.”

“Our faculty at Packard Children’s are global leaders in pediatric and obstetric medicine,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. “These physician-scientists regularly treat the most complex cases affecting children, expectant mothers, and their babies. They also conduct leading-edge research, which ultimately benefits families not only in America but around the globe. I want to congratulate all of our dedicated and compassionate caregivers and staff for earning this outstanding recognition.”

Packard Children’s specialties recognized, and their national ranking, were:

“Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital deserves high praise,” said U.S. News Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. “Ranking shows the dedication and expertise that Packard Children’s brings to the care of children who need those qualities the most. 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.

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 reputational assessment, a survey of 150 pediatric specialists and subspecialists in each of 10 specialties. The 1,500 physicians were asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty, setting aside location and expense.

Survival rates, adequacy of nurse staffing, procedure volume, and much more can be viewed at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/pediatric-rankings, and will be published in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2014 guidebook, available beginning in August.

Contact:
Robert Dicks
650-497-8364
rdicks@stanfordchildrens.org

About Packard Children’s
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford is an internationally recognized 311-bed hospital, research center and leading regional medical network providing a full complement of services for the health of children and expectant mothers. In partnership with the Stanford University School of Medicine, our world-class doctors and nurses deliver innovative, family-centered care in every pediatric and obstetric specialty. Packard Children’s is annually ranked as one of the nation’s finest by U.S. News & World Report and the only Northern California children’s hospital with specialty programs ranked in the U.S. News Top 10. Learn more about the Packard Children’s Health Alliance; explore our hospital expansion at www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/about/our-future; and find our full range of preeminent programs at stanfordchildrens.org. Like us on Facebook, watch us on YouTube and follow us on Twitter.