Children’s Named Among the Nation’s Top 10 Pediatric Hospitals by U.S.News & World Report

DALLAS, June 18 /PRNewswire/ — Children’s Medical Center is one of only 10 pediatric hospitals in the nation named to the Honor Roll in this year’s U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Children’s Hospitals survey. Of the more than 215 hospitals that serve children, 56 were ranked, and only an elite 10 are ranked in all 10 specialties, placing them on the coveted Honor Roll. The specific service lines surveyed included cancer, diabetes and endocrine disorders, digestive disorders, heart and heart surgery, kidney disorders, neonatal care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, respiratory disorders and urology.

“The objective of the Best Children’s Hospitals rankings is to help children with uniquely challenging medical needs, and for these special patients, it is essential they seek treatment at pediatric facilities with deep expertise. With this year’s rankings, we’re providing important information on the best of the best,” said U.S.News & World Report health rankings editor Avery Comarow.

The 2009 edition of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals will be featured in the August issue of U.S.News & World Report available on newsstands July 21. The list is currently available online at www.health.usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

“This recognition is a wonderful celebration of the dedication, commitment and compassion of our medical staff and faculty at UT Southwestern Medical School, our staff and our volunteers and supporters,” said Christopher J. Durovich, President and CEO of Children’s. “We are honored by the sacred trust that patients and families place in us each day. We are always awed, humbled and proud of what we do, but we are especially proud today.”

The methodology behind this year’s rankings weighed a three-part blend of reputation, outcome, and care-related measures such as nursing Magnet status, patient and family services, advanced technology, credentialing and other factors. A detailed description of the methodology can be found at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals.com .

About Children’s Medical Center

The Children’s Medical Center pediatric healthcare system devotes itself solely to caring for the complex medical needs of children. The hospital is ranked among the nation’s top 10 hospitals by U.S.News & World Report, and its nursing services rank in the top 5 percent of the nation’s hospitals for nursing excellence. Children’s is also the state’s only pediatric hospital with Level 1 Trauma status and one of only 15 in the United States able to care for severe traumatic injuries in children. Through its academic affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s medical staff conducts research that is instrumental in developing treatments, therapies, and greater understanding of pediatric diseases. Children’s is private, not-for-profit, and is the ninth largest pediatric healthcare provider in the country with 483 licensed beds, two full-service campuses and 10 outpatient sites. Many of the more than 50 specialty programs of the Children’s system have received national and international recognition, confirming a stellar reputation for Children’s and UT Southwestern Medical Center as one of the finest pediatric healthcare providers in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.childrens.com.

SOURCE Children’s Medical Center