Health & Parenting

Top 12 Children's Hospitals in the U.S.

Ranking by Specialty continued...

Orthopedics

Based on factors such as clinical research, prevention of surgical complications, and infection prevention, as well as the opinions of 450 pediatric orthopedists collected in 2010-2012.

1. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2. Rady Children's Hospital (San Diego, Calif.)
3. Boston Children's Hospital

Pulmonology

Based on factors such as management of asthma, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy, as well as the opinions of 450 pediatric pulmonologists collected in 2010-2012.

1. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
3. Texas Children's Hospital

Urology

Based on such factors as patient volume, nurse staffing, and bloodstream infections from urinary catheters, as well as the opinions of 450 pediatric urologists collected in 2010-2012.

1. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2. Boston Children's Hospital
3. Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Health (Indianapolis)

How the Decisions Were Made

Overall, 178 hospitals around the country were surveyed to determine which provide the best care for a variety of medical conditions.

According to U.S. News & World Report, "Out of all roughly 5,000 U.S. hospitals, only about 1 in 30 has rock-solid expertise in caring for children with serious problems."

Each hospital completed a 95-page survey that tallied clinical outcomes such as patient survival, infections, and complications. It also measured each hospital's resources and reputation, analyzing a hospital's staffing, technology, and adherence to best practices.

Other resources, such as the National Cancer Institute, also provided data. Finally, 150 pediatric specialists in each specialty were polled. Each was asked to name the five hospitals to which they would send the sickest children.

The survey was developed by Durham, North Carolina-based research firm RTI International, which also collected and analyzed the data.