The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has been named as one of the premiere children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
The magazine ranked Children’s Hospital 23rd on its first-ever listing of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.”
The ranking, which listed 30 hospitals, marks the first time the magazine has assessed pediatric hospitals separately from its list of “America’s Best Hospitals,” and is the first time U.S News has recognized Children’s Hospital as one of the best.
“We are very proud to be named a top pediatric hospital for the first time by U.S News,” said Kevin Churchwell, M.D., chief executive officer and executive director for Children’s Hospital. “I think it’s wonderful that the high level of care we provide to our patients has been recognized, but this honor reminds us that our work here is never done. I continue to be impressed by the commitment of our nurses, physicians and support staff and look forward to more great things to come.”
In previous years, pediatric hospitals were recognized in the magazine’s annual “America’s Best Hospitals <http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/hospitals/index.htm> ” issue solely by reputation. This expanded, separate ranking added data and statistics about hospital performance and quality of care. “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” will be announced on an annual basis.
“This achievement is a direct result of the dedication, commitment and tireless effort on the part of the Children’s Hospital team to create what is a truly special place,” said Harry Jacobson, M.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs. “Everyone at Vanderbilt can, and should, take pride in this accomplishment.”
D. Brent Polk, M.D., interim chairman of Pediatrics, echoed those sentiments. “The U.S News ranking is a tribute to our outstanding pediatric faculty, trainees and staff who deliver exceptional family-focused care to the patients of Middle Tennessee and surrounding states,” he said.
To be eligible for the rankings, a medical facility had to be classified by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) as a freestanding children’s hospital or as a children’s “hospital within a hospital.”
Of the 122 children’s hospitals that qualified, 113 hospitals responded to a U.S. News survey which asked for data and statistics on a variety of procedures such as the number of bone marrow transplants and difficult heart operations performed. In future rankings, U.S News will continue to expand on the methodology it uses to grade children’s hospitals.
Both pediatric and adult “Best Hospitals” rankings now reflect a three-part mix of reputation, mortality and care-related factors such as volume, nursing care, advanced technology and recognition by outside organizations.
“We are very pleased to be placed among such an outstanding group of hospitals – even in our short life at our new hospital we have had great success and are facing growing demands to have space available to provide a high level of care to more children,” said Monroe Carell Jr., the namesake of Children’s Hospital. “This is a facility that was built for the family and the child. We think this is one of the important aspects of the success we have at Vanderbilt, particularly because we can keep the child closely connected to their mother and father.”
Children’s Hospital received high marks in bone marrow transplant mortality and the technology aspect of advanced care practices. It was also noted that Children’s Hospital is a nursing Magnet hospital and accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapies.
Reputation was measured by a survey of 200 randomly-selected board-certified pediatricians, adolescent medicine specialists and neonatologists certified by the American Medical Association.
Mortality was measured by the number of deaths in the last 12 months for a complex heart repair of a defect called tetralogy of Fallot, bone marrow transplant and removal of a cancerous brain tumor.
Care related factors included the total number of inpatients – not counting newborns – treated in the past year, number of nurses, and availability of the kinds of advanced care expected such as key imaging technologies and a formal palliative care program.
“It is such an honor to be ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the country. This is a testament to the outstanding team that we have assembled at Children’s Hospital,” said John Brock III, M.D., professor and director of the Division of Pediatric Urology and surgeon-in-chief for Children’s Hospital. It is clear from all my interactions that everyone’s goal is the same, and that is to provide the very finest care for children. I am very proud to be a part of this outstanding institution.”
U.S News & World Report is a weekly newsmagazine devoted to reporting and analyzing national and international affairs, politics, business, health, science, technology and social trends.
Media Contact: Carole Bartoo, 615-322-4747
carole.bartoo@vanderbilt.edu
